Exceptional artist Marianna Afentouli awarded at her exhibition’s opening
Media partner of Marianna Afentouli’s fine arts exhibition was BronxNet. (From left:) BronxNet’s Executive Director, Michael Max Knobbe, journalist-Sociologist, Dr. Despina Afentouli, Presiding Priest of Zoodohos Peghe Greek Orthodox Church in the Bronx, Rev. Economos Vasilios Louros, and internationally recognized artist, Marianna Afentouli. Photo: Courtesy of Marianna Afentouli.
BRONX, NEW YORK. Internationally recognized artist, Marianna Afentouli, debuted her first
solo fine arts exhibition titled “From Antiquity, to Byzantium and to the Present” ceremoniously
and successfully on May 7, 2023 at Clipper Coffee Gallery on City Island.
His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America conveyed his archpastoral blessings and prayers
on the occasion of the opening.
Rhode Island Senator, Lou Raptakis, honored with his presence the opening of the exhibition
awarding Marianna Afentouli in recognition of her artwork.
Presiding Priest of Zoodohos Peghe Greek Orthodox Church in the Bronx, Rev.
Economos Vasilios Louros, congratulated Marianna Afentouli for the artistic expression of her
artworks.
BronxNet’s Executive Director, Michael Max Knobbe, observed that Marianna Afentouli’s
artwork connects us across time and space, from the islands of Greece to City Island, the Bronx.
Clipper Coffee Gallery owner, Peter Gennari, expressed that Marianna Afentouli’s artworks
encourage a plethora of emotions and was pleased with the response to the exhibition.
Marianna Afentouli’s mentor is the recognized Byzantine iconographer and her father, Miltiadis
Afentoulis, as well as her late grandfather, Vasileios Afentoulis, also a recognized Byzantine
Iconographer, who both infused Marianna with love for the Byzantine Iconography and fine arts.
As Marianna Afentouli has mentioned, her path in the Arts was self evident, as she decided to
study the traditionals arts of Marble Sculpture, Mosaics and Stained-glass at two unique school
of their kind – at the Preparatory and Professional School of Fine Arts Panormou-Tinos, Greece
and at the Sivitanidios Public School of Trade and Vocations, Athens, Greece.
Curator of the fine arts exhibition was Director, Jerry Landi, who announced that Marianna
Afentouli’s exhibition opened the gallery at this post pandemic time and set art at high standards.
Rhode Island Senator, Lou Raptakis, awarded internationally recognized artist, Marianna Afentouli, in recognition of her artwork. (From right:) Marianna Afentouli, Lou Raptakis, and journalist-Sociologist, Dr. Despina Afentouli. Photo: Courtesy of Marianna Afentouli.
Amongst others, the Consul General of Greece in New York, Konstantinos Konstantinou, the
President of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York, Philip Christopher, sent
their warm and congratulatory wishes.
The event was honored by the presence of the Parish Council treasurer of Zoodohos Peghe Greek
Orthodox Church in the Bronx, Mike Pappas, with his wife Jackie Pappas and their son, the
attorney, Vasilios Georgiou, with his son and writer, Leonidas Georgiou, representatives of
organizations, people of arts and letters, and the greater area of City Island’s art lover audience.
Marianna Afentouli expressed her gratitude for both the recognition and the warm support that
she received as an artist at her first solo fine arts exhibition with an international audience.
To be noted that the exhibition will last until May 31 between 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. daily and
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on weekends. Modern Odyssey program on Bronxnet will soon pay a
tribute to this special occasion for Marianna Afentouli.