Kilim. Tree of Life with wedding procession and initials ΓΠ. 19th Century.

Exhibition

Weaving Dreams
Kilims from Geraki, Laconia

On view from
April 23 – July 26, 2026

Ghika Gallery
3 Kriezotou Street, Kolonaki, Athens

The village of Geraki, located on the slopes of Mount Parnon, is renowned for its millennia-old art of weaving on the vertical loom.

The exhibition presents dowry kilims and related objects from the seventeenth to the early twentieth century, particularly works woven with images of women and men standing within a landscape of agricultural abundance and surrounded by symbolic imagery. Weavers produced textiles for domestic and commercial use. A finely woven kilim, costly to acquire, signified its owner’s affluence and social status, making it a prized possession and family heirloom.

Geraki weavers have long been recognized for their exceptional skills, winning awards at the Vienna World’s Fair of 1873, the Eighth International Exhibition in Thessaloniki in 1933, and elsewhere. In recognition of this enduring weaving tradition, the textile art of Geraki was inscribed in the Greek National Intangible Cultural Heritage Index in 2019.

In the 1930s, artists, scholars, and folklorists passed through Geraki, admiring the village’s Byzantine churches, elaborate stone houses, and vibrant weaving industry. This exhibition celebrates the connection between Geraki and several of the artists and intellectuals of that period, whose work is exhibited in the Ghika Gallery.

This exhibition is organized by the Benaki Museum and curated by Sharon Gerstel and Sofia Pitouli. We extend our sincere thanks to the supporters listed below for their generosity.

Under the Auspices:
Region of Peloponnese

Lead Supporter:
Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF)
Gefyra is supported by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF)

Exhibition Supporters:
Gefyra
UCLA SNF Center for the Study of Hellenic Culture
George and Tina Kolovos

Exhibition Hashtag
#GerakiKilimsBenaki