Vassili Lambrinos (1926-2017)
ΒΑΣΙΛΗΣ ΛΑΜΠΡΙΝΟΣ
Whenever I think of the term "gentleman", my mind comes to Vassili. To me, he epitomized all a gentleman is, or should be. Kind, dignified, composed yet charming, polite in a deep meaningful way. It was a privilege in my life to have met and become friends with Vassili Lambrinos. And I honor his memory.
Artist, Actor, Director, and Choreographer Vassili Lambrinos was born in Suez, Egypt, January 30 1926, of Greek parents. He studied painting, drama and dance in Athens, Paris, London and Monte Carlo. He then moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina to direct and act in several films, and served as the Ballet Director of Teatro Colon. Among the theatrical productions he has directed are The Star is Always Loved and Loved, The Bacchae, Kouros by Kazantzakis and Requilbo. He has choreographed numerous ballets for the Opera Colon of Buenos Aires, including Daphnis and Chloe by Ravel, Concerto No. 1 by Grieg, Concerto No. 1 by Mendelssohn and Interplay by Morton Gould. He had his own dance company touring Latin America for ten years. He has also been artistic director for the Argentinian television, and choreographed the film The Glass Birds at the Theatre des Champs Elysees in Paris. In addition to his choreographic work he has directed a number of theatrical productions in Buenos Aires. He won the Argentinian National Film Institute award for the best actor of the year for his role in the film Los Tallos Amargos (1956), and he has also played leading parts in numerous American films but also in the Greek film The Return of Medea. Among them, he is known for his work on The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964) and Female Animal (1970). He has also made numerous appearances in American television programs.
"By the Seashore", oil on canvas by Vassili Lambrinos. Private collection.
His paintings, mostly of the Greek sea brought joy to worldwide collectors. He died in New York, on May 12, 2017.
He participated in numerous group exhibitions. His work was presented in the Zygos Annual Edition, Vol. I, 1982. Public collections include the Vorres Museum, Athens; Butler Institute of American Art, Ohio; Canton Art Institute, Ohio; The Comninos Museum, Castelorizo, Museum of Fine Arts, Springfield, Mass.; Weatherspoon Art Gallery, University of North Carolina, Greensboro; Parrish Museum, Southampton, New York; University of Wyoming Art Museum, Laramie, Wyoming; Palm Springs Desert Museum, Palm Springs, California, and elsewhere.
Solo shows
Southampton Art Gallery, Long Island, 1970; Kretschner Gallery, New York, 1971; Hammer Galleries, New York, 1972; De Poliolo Gallery, Palm Springs, 1972; Kay Obergfel, Palm Desert, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978; Galerie des Deaux Mondes, JFK Airport, 1973; James Hunt Barker Galleries, Nantucket, 1973; Palm Beach Galleries, Palm Beach, 1974; The Gallery, RHMS Amerikanis, 1974; Palm Springs Desert Museum, 1976; Belgis Freidel, New York, 1976; Ta Nisia Gallery, New York, 1978; Center for Music, Dance and Art, Lake Place, New York, 1979; Gallery Nicholas, Palm Beach, 1979; Galerie Zygos, Athens, 1980, 1985; Erickson Gallery, New York, 1981, Sutton Gallery, New York, 1983, Zygos Gallery, Washington, D.C.
He participated in numerous group exhibitions. His work was presented in the Zygos Annual Edition, Vol. I, 1982. Public collections include the Vorres Museum, Athens; Butler Institute of American Art, Ohio; Canton Art Institute, Ohio; The Comninos Museum, Castelorizo, Museum of Fine Arts, Springfield, Mass.; Weatherspoon Art Gallery, University of North Carolina, Greensboro; Parrish Museum, Southampton, New York; University of Wyoming Art Museum, Laramie, Wyoming; Palm Springs Desert Museum, Palm Springs, California, and elsewhere.
Solo shows
Southampton Art Gallery, Long Island, 1970; Kretschner Gallery, New York, 1971; Hammer Galleries, New York, 1972; De Poliolo Gallery, Palm Springs, 1972; Kay Obergfel, Palm Desert, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978; Galerie des Deaux Mondes, JFK Airport, 1973; James Hunt Barker Galleries, Nantucket, 1973; Palm Beach Galleries, Palm Beach, 1974; The Gallery, RHMS Amerikanis, 1974; Palm Springs Desert Museum, 1976; Belgis Freidel, New York, 1976; Ta Nisia Gallery, New York, 1978; Center for Music, Dance and Art, Lake Place, New York, 1979; Gallery Nicholas, Palm Beach, 1979; Galerie Zygos, Athens, 1980, 1985; Erickson Gallery, New York, 1981, Sutton Gallery, New York, 1983, Zygos Gallery, Washington, D.C.
Vassilis Lambrinos, oil on canvas, "No 020", 177 x 122 cm, 1982. Available from a private collection.
Vassilis Lambrinos, oil on canvas, "No 022", 76 x 61 cm, 1984. Available, from a private collection.
Vassilis Lambrinos, oil on canvas, "No 014", 76 x 61 cm, 1986. Available, from a private collection.
Vassilis Lambrinos, oil on canvas, "No 008", 66,5 x 61 cm, 1994. Available, from a private collection.
"Untitled", oil on canvas, 135 x 105 cm, 1984, by Vassili Lambrinos. Private collection.
"View from the Deck" oil on canvas, by Vassili Lambrinos. Private collection.
"Porthole" oil on canvas, by Vassili Lambrinos. Private collection.
