Kleoniki Asprioti

Kleoniki Asprioti was born into a Greek family in Ottoman Varna in 1870. Eight years later, her city became part of the Bulgarian state. Asprioti received her initial Greek education in Varna and continued her studies at the Greek Institute for Noble Maidens, founded by the patron Zappas in Constantinople.

After Constantinople, Asprioti went to Prague to study decorative arts. From 1890 to 1895, Asprioti lived in Munich, where, after becoming a student of the Greek academic painter Nikolaos Gyzis, she devoted herself exclusively to painting. In 1895, the artist settled in Paris. While working in Paris, Asprioti painted mainly portraits of famous people.

During the turbulent first two decades of the 20th century, Asprioti lived and worked alternately in Athens and Constantinople. The deteriorating living conditions for the Greek population of Constantinople from 1922 forced Asprioti to make the decision to move permanently to Athens in 1927.

Landscapes make up the majority of Asprioti’s work. Asprioti’s works are mainly within the academic Munich School of Greek painting. The artist began exhibiting her works in 1900 in Paris, Constantinople and Athens. In the period 1910-1915 she painted the works “Italian Boy”, “Inspiration”, “Artist”.

Her families residence is believed to have been along Tzar Samuil Street, however the actual property has long since been redeveloped.

Kleoniki Asprioti died in Athens in 1930. Some of her works can be seen in the National Gallery of Greece.

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