National Glyptotheque
The National Glyptotheque is one of the most important museum spaces dedicated to modern Greek sculpture.
It is located in the Athens district of Goudi, within the Army Park (Alsos Stratou), and is housed in two former royal stables buildings. In addition, it includes an outdoor exhibition area of approximately 6.5 acres, which has been transformed into a sculpture park, allowing large-scale works to be displayed in direct interaction with nature.
The buildings were granted by the Hellenic Ministry of National Defence and renovated with the support of European funding, while their conversion into modern exhibition spaces was made possible through a donation by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. The National Glyptotheque was inaugurated in 2004 with a major retrospective exhibition of Henry Moore, alongside monumental wooden sculptures by Christos Kapralos, marking its official opening as a cultural institution.
In 2006, the permanent exhibition of Modern Greek Sculpture was inaugurated, offering for the first time a comprehensive overview of the development of sculpture in Greece from its early stages to contemporary times. The exhibition is organized into thematic sections that trace the evolution of Greek sculptural art, accompanied by explanatory wall texts and digital information points, including interactive stations and QR codes, which provide visitors with additional insights into each artwork.
At the entrance of the exhibition, selected works by major international sculptors are also presented, creating a broader artistic dialogue between Greek and global sculpture. Through its indoor galleries and outdoor sculpture park, the National Glyptotheque functions as a vibrant cultural space that combines art, environment, and education, offering visitors a rich and immersive experience of modern sculpture.
