Giannis Moralis was born in Arta on the 23rd of April 1916. He lived in Preveza until 1922 because his father worked there as a philologist,and in 1927 the whole family moves to Athens. His artistic inclination was obvious ever since his adolescence. In 1931 he succeeds in the exams of the Faculty of Fine Arts, he gets accepted and studies painting and engraving next to great artists of those times.

In 1936 he graduates from the Faculty of Fine Arts and goes to Rome and Paris, but in 1039 he returns to Greece because of WW2. In 1949 he participated to the foundation of the artistic group “Armos” together with

other Greek famous painters (Hatzikyriakos Ghikas, Tsarouchis, Nikolaou, Engonopoulos). In the 50s he started collaborating with the Artistic Theatre Karolos Koun and the National Theatre, while his first personal exhibition was realized as late as 1959.

His works include books illustrations, disks covers, sculptures, murals, theatre décor and costumes for the National Theatre and the corps de ballet of the Hellenic Choreodrama.

One of his most representative works is the decoration of the Hilton Hotel in Athens while some of his finest works can be found also at Athens Metro, Panepistimiou Station.

GGiannis Moralis is considered as one of the top figures of Greek art in the 20th century, a great teacher, painter and engraver who became the main representative of the 30s generation.

Arta honoured this great artist by naming the Public Art Gallery after him. The “Giannis Moralis” Art Gallery opened in December 2010 and is housed in the renovated building of the former Fire Station. It has two central halls, one for the permanent exhibition and one for the periodical ones.