XENARIOS KOSTAS

Kostas studied art restoration/conservation at the studio of the Athenian Technological Institute in Greece with emphasis on preservation rather than restoration. Though his schooling was in general conservation, his preference is with the conservation of paintings of all mediums. From 1969 to 1974 he worked for the Greek Ministry of Culture on the Island of Crete, restoring Byzantine frescos and icons in remote monasteries and churches. In 1974 he immigrated to Canada and settled in Toronto where he has been living ever since. He has worked for several galleries and public institutions, including the Royal Ontario Museum and the Historical Board. 

“As far back as I can remember I tried to imitate my surroundings and I copied life as I saw it. The closest and dearest to me were my immediate family, so their faces were my first creations.  I was always drawn to portraiture, and it was no surprise to me that later on, during my college years, I ended up studying and copying Byzantine icons.  Though nature has always attracted me, I did not have the desire to replicate it until years later, while living in Canada.  The landscapes I chose to paint are often from my memories of Greece with the intense contrast of light and shadow.”  

Currently, Kostas continues art conservation in his gallery “XC Art Restoration” on Mount Pleasant Rd. He not only restores paintings and sculptures, but displays his personal works in the gallery as well.  The long list of clients and reputable organizations Kostas has, and continues, to work for have made him a sought after conservator and artist.

 

SOLD

SOLD

Koroni Harbour
Oil on Canvas

Koroni Harbour 2
Oil on paper

Fishing boat
SOLD