Breeders
Breeders never want to be a gallery. Indeed, it began in the late 1990s and was founded by Stathis Panagoulis and George Vamvakidis to “establish artistic dialogue between Athens and the world”. But by 2002, the publication had evolved into a completely open-air exhibition space, quickly playing a groundbreaking role in the Athenian contemporary art world. Today, breeders position themselves as traditional galleries, but as cultural incubators. It continues to introduce some of the most urgent and thoughtful contemporary works in the city, often eliciting politically charged or radical voices, while maintaining a platform that remains open, diverse and fearless. In addition to the exhibition, the team is involved in publishing, artist residency and grassroots cultural programs.
The breeder has been housed in Metaxourgeio’s 1970s ice cream factory since 2008, redesigned by architect Aris Zambicos. The four-story structure retains the solid, tactile quality of its industrial past, and is now wrapped in a minimalist, beautifully-equipped palette that will focus on the work itself. One of the gallery’s outstanding initiatives is the breeding open studio, which invites artists to produce works on site, which makes the space’s reputation not only a place for speech but also a place for creation and communication.
