In 2016, Vasiliki Sianti returned to Greece from London, in order to undertake the direction of the new Ikastikos Kiklos Sianti Gallery, bringing back as her more valuable asset the great experience she gained by collaborating with some of the leading firms in the Art Market, such as the Saatchi Gallery and the Sotheby’s. She is now collaborating with important Greek artists as their curator, as well as their consultant in matters concerning the market and the promotion of their work. At the same time, she retains and cultivates her special relations with the Visual Arts international scene, focusing on the prevailing trends in the art market.

Having as her personal vision not only the development of the Ikastikos Kiklos Sianti Gallery, but that of Contemporary Greek Art as well, she took in 2017 the initiative to publish the first Greek Graffiti and Street Art History, followed by a joint exhibition of works by the most significant Greek street artists.

Observing the increasing importance of the internet in the Art Market, she introduced new options for the visitors of the new Ikastikos Kiklos Sianti Gallery site (www.ikastikos-kiklos.com), such as the Educational Programs for children, the Special Exhibitions, the Informative Blog, the new Art Club card e.t.c.

She is always searching for new ways of serving art lovers, as well as art investors in order to satisfy their every need. She strongly believes in her partners and is an advocate of teamwork.

“In this fascinating world of the visual arts, I always feel like a student, collector and art dealer at the same time. A visitor as well as a director. And this is such a unique feeling!”

Thodoris Siantis, plays a crucial part as “the man behind the scenes” of the gallery, supporting the whole project by overseeing the Silk-Screen Printing production: a unique genre of Greek Art which sprung and flourished through the Ikastikos Kiklos Sianti Gallery. In his opinion, Silk-Screen Printing is the overture to a personal collection, offering to the wider public the opportunity to get acquainted with contemporary Greek artists.

As a connoisseur and a meticulous expert, he calculates everything with the outmost accuracy, transferring the painting’s images while retaining the value of the brush stroke, the movement of the artist’s hand and the artwork’s special atmosphere – always in collaboration with the artist himself. His position is one of huge responsibility. It demands great knowledge since nothing of the original work should be lost. If that was to happen, “the magic of the work of art would be lost”, as he puts it himself.

Although he studied mathematics, his relationship with the Arts begun in a very young age. He first came in contact with the Art Market world while accompanying his father, Fanis, to the artists’ workshops. This is where he trained his eye in catching every little detail, registering in his mind every single mannerism.

He is in charge of the Silk-Screen Printings Department, working always side by side with the artists in order to secure their signature. He is also responsible for the gallery’s digital presence, overlooking the digitalization of the artworks. Since the creation of the gallery’s e-shop, he also manages the company’s Shipping Department.

“When everything is ready, the visual artist finally signs and numbers the Silk-Screen Printing. In that moment I know a new work of art has been born, beginning its journey to reach you”.

Fanis Siantis, Art Dealer and Collector, as well as owner of the gallery since 1980, founded the Ikastikos Kiklos along with Dinos Liberopoulos, his beloved friend and partner. He has always been a pioneer of Art Dealing, the creator of the Greek Silk-Screen Printing Market, as well as a curator of many successful exhibitions which introduced Contemporary Art to numerous homes and business spaces of the Athenian society.

In 1996, Fanis Siantis moved the Ikastikos Kiklos to Harilaou Trikoupi St., at the famous 1.700 sq.m. gallery which was declared one of the thirty Athenian buildings of special architectural interest, by the Hellenic Institute of Architecture. It was then, that he organized one of the most historic joint
exhibitions of all times which marked the beginning of a new era for the Ikastikos Kiklos, presenting works by Mitaras, Fasianos, Sorogas, Tsoklis, Kokkinidis, Tetsis, Gaitis, Tsarouchis, Vasiliou and many more.

Today, he is still an active art dealer, retaining an advisory position by the side of the Ikastikos Kiklos Sianti new management which has been taken over by his two children, Vassiliki and Thodoris. He is a true companion in supporting the gallery’s aspirations, always helping in the choice of new promising artists while promoting the work of his old collaborators with whom he once built the Ikastikos Kiklos Sianti Gallery.

“Art is my life. I turned my passion into my profession and I now live with my friends: painters and old customers.”