Leontios Petmezas

Born in Kavala in 1965, he studied Political Science and Public Administration at the University of Athens. He also pursued theater at the National Conservatory, journalism at the Botsis Foundation, and art history at the University of Athens and abroad. He collaborates with municipalities, ministries, embassies, regions, museums, intellectual and educational institutions, publishing groups, cultural and educational centers, and art spaces. He contributes to the organization of exhibitions, festivals, and art and cultural events. He writes forewords for publications, books, exhibition catalogs, and cultural events. Among others, he has written forewords for art tributes: to M. Callas (2009), M. Mercouri (2011), F. Kahlo (2012), Th. Angelopoulos (2012), anthologies for the 100th anniversary of N. Vrettakos' birth (2012), and the 150th anniversary of K. Cavafy's birth (2013), as well as the hagiographic calendars (2015 & 2016) and the hagiographic tributes from 2014-2018 by the award-winning iconographer Marilena Foka. His poems have been included in the poetry calendars of ''Iolkos'' publications for the years 2012-13-16-17-18. From 2004 to 2013, he served as the Artistic Director and scientific advisor of the visual arts institution "Art's Flame." Since 2014, he has been a scientific advisor at the Hellenic Academy of Art and Culture. He participates as a speaker in Greek and international conferences and symposia on literature and art. He writes analyses, essays, art criticism, and book reviews in print and electronic media. He is involved in the study and appraisal of artworks. He has authored five books: "The Aesthetic Contemplation of Kostas Evangelatos" (2001), an essay on artistic ethos with a foreword by the state award-winning Ioanna Karatzafere, "Threshold of Artistic Solution" (2003), an approach to Impressionism, "Conscious Sayings" (2009), poetry with a foreword by actress Anna Fonsou, "Yannis Koutsocheiras, the Character-Building Intellectual of Political Consciousness" (2010), an essay with a foreword by philologist Sophia Petmeza, "Archive of Consciousness" (2011), poetry with visual compositions by K. Evangelatos and views on his writing by E. Alexiou, D. Sotiriou, L. Zografou, M. Iordanidou, and others. He has written 18 plays: "The Other Side is Always Nothing" (1982), "It Was Fake Love" (1985), "The Upper Room" (1988), "Where's the Paper?" (1989), "Scent of Sweet" (1993), "Collection Box Case" (1994), "Strange Woman" (1996), "Passion's Journey" (1998), "Thought of Consciousness" (1999), "Inside the Golden Box" (2000), "Waiting for the Second" (2001), "Not Mutual Attraction" (2003), "The First Bright Day" (2004), "Open That Door" (2006), "If He Comes Again" (2007), "Ballad to the Myth of Perlimplin" (2010), inspired by F.G. Lorca, "Waiting for... Pinter" (2011), inspired by H. Pinter, "I've Been Waiting for You... A Lifetime" (2016). In 2018, he worked on the dramaturgical adaptation of the play "God Has a Sense of Humor" by George Tsangaridis. He has been honored by scientific, humanitarian, and cultural organizations, including the Panhellenic Federation of Resistance Organizations (1st poetry prize) (2001), the Spiritual Olympiad (2002), and the Hospitaller Order of St. Lazarou of Jerusalem has been honored with the title of knight and a commemorative medal (2009), as well as the award for service (2010). He has also received recognition from the University of Athens (2011), the Association of Retired Army Officers (2013), the Panhellenic Association of Olympiacos Friends (2013), the Maroussi Lions Club (2013), UNESCO Piraeus and Islands (2014), the European Society of Scientists, Writers, and Artists (2014), and the Piraeus Literary Society (2017). He is a member of the Union of Magazine and Electronic Press Editors (ESPIT) and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ). He is married to Marilena Foka, a visual artist, iconographer, professor, and cultural scholar.