Continuing the series of exploring the museums of Thessaloniki, this time we visited MOMus, the Museum of Contemporary Art of Thessaloniki. Since 1999, MOMus has been housed in a modernist building inside the grounds of the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair, acting as a true beacon of modern and contemporary art not only for Thessaloniki but for Northern Greece as a whole.
The museum currently features three unique exhibitions, one permanent and two temporary. Let’s explore them together.
The museum’s permanent exhibition begins with the generous donations of three key figures in the Greek art scene: Alexandros Iolas (1908–1987), Alexandros Xydis (1917–2004) and Achilleas Aperghis (1909–1986). Their contributions brought together an impressive mix of works, from Greek contemporary artists to international icons such as Andy Warhol and Victor Brauner.
These collections helped shape the identity of the MOMus Museum of Contemporary Art and played a major role in the creation of the Contemporary Art Center. You can explore this fascinating exhibition across all three levels of the museum, each offering its own artistic journey.
Photo: @teo13g
Photo: @teo13g
Maybe we’re giving you short notice, but there’s still time until October 19 to catch the exhibition “The King is Naked” at MOMus Museum of Contemporary Art in Thessaloniki. Showcasing the works of Vasilis Vasilakakis, Vangelis Gokas and Ilias Papailakis, this exhibition takes inspiration from Hans Christian Andersen’s famous fairy tale and reflects on how we see the world around us.
In a time when images flash by in seconds, these three acclaimed Greek painters invite us to pause. Their art doesn’t shout, it whispers. Through deep colors, shadows and textures, they remind us that stillness can reveal truths we often overlook.
“The King is Naked” is more than an exhibition. It is a quiet dialogue about painting, its power and its persistence. A beautiful reminder that even in our fast-paced digital world, art still teaches us how to truly look.
Photo: @teo13g
Photo: @teo13g
The second exhibition at MOMus Museum of Contemporary Art in Thessaloniki opens the door to the surreal world of Marianna Ignataki. Titled “The Enlightened Ones, the Green Horses and Some More Bitches,” it creates a dreamlike space where boundaries disappear and freedom takes new forms.
Through watercolor, painting, drawing and sculptural installations, Ignataki brings to life characters that exist beyond identity and definition. Her work draws from her experiences across Greece, China and Germany, blending cultures and emotions into a captivating visual language.
This exhibition, curated by Theodore Markoglou, is part of the museum’s Case Studio series, dedicated to fresh, contemporary voices that keep MOMus connected to the pulse of today’s art scene.
Photo: @teo13g
Photo: @teo13g
Before you leave MOMus, take a moment to visit the museum café. It is one of the quietest corners in Thessaloniki, an inviting spot to read, study or simply unwind with a cup of coffee while enjoying the view of the museum’s garden and the OTE Tower in the distance. (More on this iconic landmark soon.) And if you are planning a return visit, mark your calendar for October 31, when the museum opens its new exhibition “everything must change | Radical Intelligence. Saloniki 9.” This thought-provoking show will run until July 12, 2026, bringing fresh ideas and bold perspectives to Thessaloniki’s contemporary art scene.
Photo: @teo13g
Photo: @teo13g
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