Alexander Iolas: The Gallerist Who Launched Warhol
Alexander Iolas, a prominent Greek art dealer and collector who operated between Paris, New York, and Athens, organized Andy Warhol's first solo exhibition in 1952 at the Hugo Gallery, where he served as director. His Athenian villa, now a designated cultural heritage site, has fallen into severe disrepair after repeated vandalism. The film "Fall into Ruin" by William E. Jones documents the director's visit to the abandoned property, which once housed a stunning collection of contemporary art and antiquities. The physical decay of the villa mirrors the tragic end of Iolas's life: he died of AIDS in 1987, having faced accusations of theft, receiving stolen goods, drug trafficking, and incitement to prostitution in his final years. The film will have its Italian premiere at Cinema La Compagnia in Florence on November 17 at 6:25 PM as part of the Lo Schermo dell'Arte festival.
Key facts
- Alexander Iolas organized Andy Warhol's first solo exhibition in 1952 at Hugo Gallery.
- Iolas was a Greek art dealer and collector active in Paris, New York, and Athens.
- His Athenian villa is a designated cultural heritage site but is now abandoned and vandalized.
- The film 'Fall into Ruin' by William E. Jones documents the villa's decay.
- Iolas died of AIDS in 1987.
- In his final years, Iolas faced accusations of theft, receiving stolen goods, drug trafficking, and incitement to prostitution.
- The villa was lavishly furnished with contemporary art and antiquities in its heyday in the early 1980s.
- The film premieres in Italy at Cinema La Compagnia in Florence on November 17 at 6:25 PM.
Entities
Artists
- Alexander Iolas
- Andy Warhol
- William E. Jones
Institutions
- Hugo Gallery
- Lo Schermo dell'Arte
- Cinema La Compagnia
- Artribune
Locations
- Paris
- New York
- Athens
- Florence
- Italy
- Greece