Alexander Iolas was an Egyptian-born Greek-American art gallerist and significant collector of classical and modern art works, who advanced the careers of Rene Magritte, Andy Warhol and many other artists.
20 Facts About Alexander Iolas
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Alexander Iolas established the modern model of the global art business, operating successful galleries in Paris, Geneva, Milan and New York.
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Alexander Iolas graduated from Averofeio highschool, where he was a pupil of Glaukos Alithersis, a Cypriot physical education teacher and poet, who introduced him to Constantine Cavafy.
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From an early age, Alexander Iolas showed an inclination towards the arts and consequently, in 1928, he moved to Athens, Greece.
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In 1930, upon the urging of Dimitris Mitropoulos, Alexander Iolas moved to Berlin where he devoted himself to dance studies.
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Alexander Iolas attended the school of Tatjana and Victor Gsovsky and participated in the Salzburg Festival in 1931 and 1932.
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In November 1932, Alexander Iolas moved to Paris where he continued studying ballet with some well-known teachers, and attended art classes at the Sorbonne.
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On November 19,1945, Alexander Iolas became a naturalized American citizen and signed as Constantine Coutsoudis.
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The restructuring of Alexander Iolas' name was an invention of his; he had already appeared as 'Jolas Coutsoudis' in theatrical programs since 1931, long before he went to America.
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The name 'Alexander Iolas' gradually replaced his actual surname as it was more euphonic, with only two-syllables and therefore easier to pronounce.
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In 1945, Alexander Iolas decided to give up dancing and explore a way to transition to art.
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On September 1,1945, Alexander Iolas's first gallery, the Hugo Gallery, was officially established in New York, named in honor of Francois Hugo, the last spouse of Donna Maria Ruspoli who was a close friend of Alexander Iolas.
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Alexander Iolas started by exhibiting works of European surrealist artists, such as Rene Magritte, Max Ernst, Giorgio de Chirico, and Victor Brauner.
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Alexander Iolas collaborated with the younger generation of Greek artists, such as Kostas Tsoklis, Pavlos, Takis, Akrithakis, Fassianos and Mara Karetsos, who had already started a career abroad.
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Alexander Iolas donated artworks to large museums, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Georges Pompidou Center in Paris, as well as the National Art Gallery of Athens.
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Alexander Iolas gradually closed down all his galleries but the one in New York, thus keeping his promise to Marx Ernst, to stop when he died.
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The fact that, during the '70s, many artists from the old guard died, people by whom Alexander Iolas had been nurtured and for whom he had deep love and respect, must have played a significant role in his decision.
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In 1984, Alexander Iolas donated 47 works of contemporary art from his personal collection to the Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art, while he promised to donate more works.
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Alexander Iolas was even accused of illicit trade in antiquities, a case that did not reach the courts because of his death, while all other accusations were dropped as groundless.
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Alexander Iolas died from AIDS-related complications at New York Hospital on June 8,1987.