The Breeder gallery was founded in 2002 by Stathis Panagoulis and George Vamvakidis. It developed organically from The Breeder magazine that started in 2000, out of the need for building an artistic dialogue between Athens and the world. Over the past twenty years, The Breeder gallery has been a pioneer in the development of the contemporary art scene in Athens.
In 2008, the Breeder relocated to an abandoned 1970s ice-cream factory. The new space was designed by Aris Zambicos architects and its renovation was awarded by the Hellenic Institute of Architecture. Throughout 2013, The Breeder operated a pop-up gallery space in Monte Carlo, Monaco. From 2010 to 2015 The Breeder operated Breeder Feeder a pop-up restaurant in its second floor, inside a site specific installation by Andreas Angelidakis. Among the guest chefs was Mina Stone who has now founded Mina’s at MoMA PS1. During 2015-2016 The Breeder initiated a residency program curated by Stamatia Dimitrakopoulos.
At the Breeder, we show art relevant to our times, sometimes political and sometimes radical. The platform of the Breeder gallery is open to artists of all nationalities, gender, color and religion, supporting a deeper understanding and free exchange of ideas and ideals in contemporary art. It’s a non binary organism, it’s financial freedom derives from the sales of the art it features.
Since 2019, the Breeder operates the Breeder Open Studio, as a means to engage with the production of art practice. Several times per year, the gallery space is transformed to a studio space for four to six weeks, hosting the outpost of an invited artist’s studio. During this time, the gallery is open by appointment, allowing for the opportunity of a private studio visit. Visitors are able to meet, discuss and engage with the artists who get to react more effectively with the Breeder’s audience. Afterwards, the Breeder regains its initial format, hosting a solo show of the artist. Invited artists of the Breeder Open studio, include Ariana Papademetropoulos, Chioma Ebinama, Joy Labinjo, Ekene Stanley Emecheta, Victor Ubah, Barry Yusufu and Adegboyega Adesina.
The Breeder gallery has always been a supporter of communities in need of financial support and visibility. Through our charity work, we were an early supporter of the Athens Gay Pride Parade. Τhrough our charity auctions, the gallery and the generous artists, were able to provide Athens Pride with substantial funds in order for the parade to take place, in the early years before corporate sponsorship was interested. As a response to the Covid19 crisis in 2020 we organised an open call for Athens based artists to submit work for auction, where 100% of the proceeds would go to artists. We had an overwhelming participation of more than one hundred artists, participating with 150 works and an overwhelming response from collectors and friends who made the auction an absolute success supporting financially Athens based artists.
