The Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1979. Its main purpose is the operation of its two museums, on the island of Andros and in Athens, and the promotion of visual arts on a domestic and international level.
Its founders and inspirers were Basil and Elise Goulandris who were passionate about art. Painting was the main focus of their interest which connected them to the artistic circles of post-war Paris; they also promoted young Greek artists, helping them to evolve their art and expand their artistic horizons.
The museum of the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation in Athens houses the Foundation’s rare Collection of modern and contemporary art, with works by Cézanne, Monet, Picasso, Van Gogh, El Greco, Chagall, Rodin, Miró, Parthenis, Tetsis, Tsarouchis, Moralis and will also hold temporary exhibitions of Greek and foreign artists. Apart from exhibition spaces, the museum – with a total surface area of 7,250 m2 spread over 11 floors – also houses a shop and Café – Restaurant, art library, children’s workshop and a state-of-the-art auditorium. Concerts, theatrical productions, discussions, activities for children and adults and educational workshops complement the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation philosophy, in a series of innovative events harmoniously incorporated in the museum setting.
The Foundation’s Art Collection, is one of the most important private collections to be assembled during the second half of the 20th century. Like every private collection, the criteria for choosing the works composing it were purely subjective. Basil & Elise Goulandris opted for these particular works driven only by their personal preferences and their own aesthetic codes. The main purpose of Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation in Athens is to host this collection, making it accessible to the public and respecting the wishes of its founders.
