A group of prominent Greek artists and art scholars are calling for the temporary withdrawal of their works from Greece’s National Gallery in protest over delays in the reinstallation of pieces vandalized last month by Nikos Papadopoulos, a right-wing member of the populist party Niki (Victory).

On March 10, 2025, the exhibition The Allure of the Bizarre at the National Gallery – Alexandros Soutsos Museum in Athens was targeted by Papadopoulos, a Member of Parliament from the far-right NIKI party. He vandalized several works by artist Christoforos Katsadiotis, labeling them “offensive” to the Greek Orthodox faith. The damaged pieces were removed for restoration, with assurances that they would be re-exhibited shortly.

However, a full month later, the works remain absent from the gallery walls—a delay that has sparked outrage among 29 artists, academics, and legal representatives of estates whose works are part of the gallery’s collection. In a public letter released on Thursday, April 10, they demanded the temporary removal of their own works until the exhibition is restored in its original form.

In response, the National Gallery’s director, Syrago Tsiara, announced today during a press tour for a new exhibition, Panayiotis Tetsis – The Obsession of the Gaze, that Katsadiotis’ works will return within the month under enhanced security measures. She also revealed plans for a major two-day symposium in May, which will bring together art theorists and clergy for a calm and democratic discussion on the intersections of art, religion, and blasphemy.

The Artists’ Public Letter

The signatories of the letter, addressed to Culture Minister Lina Mendoni, National Gallery Director Syrago Tsiara, and members of the Gallery’s board, expressed strong disapproval over what they described as institutional inaction and legal inconsistency.

“One month has passed since the unlawful attack by a far-right MP and the subsequent removal of artworks from the exhibition The Allure of the Bizarre,” the letter reads. “Despite assurances from the Ministry of Culture and the National Gallery, the works have not been reinstalled. Vague explanations such as ‘we are reviewing security conditions with expert input’ insult our intelligence and raise concerns about the true reasons behind the delay.”

The letter continues: “Artistic freedom is constitutionally protected under Article 16 of the Constitution. The failure of both the Ministry of Culture and the National Gallery to uphold their institutional responsibilities offends us not only as artists, but as democratic citizens.”

The signatories, who include esteemed painters, photographers, professors, filmmakers, and legal heirs of major Greek modern artists, insist that the works removed from the exhibition be reinstated immediately in accordance with democratic principles and legal obligations.

“Until this is done,” they state, “we request the temporary removal of our works from the National Gallery’s exhibitions. Otherwise, what kind of culture are we talking about?”