Man Saves Greek Artist Fassianos’ Painting from LA Wildfires

A man named Francois Auroux saved a painting by renowned Greek artist Alekos Fassianos from the devastating wildfires currently raging in Los Angeles, touching the hearts of art lovers worldwide.

Fassianos is one of the most celebrated modern artists of Greece, who left an indelible mark not only on Greece’s art but the world’s as well.

With his distinctive style that fused classical Greek motifs with contemporary aesthetics, he captivated many people with his unique style.

His works are characterized by vibrant colors and flowing lines, often depicting themes rooted in Greek mythology, history, and everyday life.

This particular style made Fassianos a symbols for Greece and an element worth of cultural and national pride.

The rescue of the Fassianos painting during the Los Angeles wildfire

Auroux’s daring retrieval of a Fassianos painting from Los Angeles’ destructive wildfires highlights a critically and frequently underestimated aspect: the devastation extends beyond lives and livelihoods, threatening to destroy valuable artistic treasures as well.

As flames engulfed his Pacific Palisades home, Auroux, who is a lawyer, made the split-second decision to save two of his most cherished paintings, including one by Fassianos.

A man evacuating his house from the California wild fires with a painting by Greek painter Alekos Fassianos pic.twitter.com/DgqCyz6nqr

— katy moukakou (@princessekateri) January 11, 2025

During a conversation with CNN, Francois Auroux noted that the wildfires had destroyed all his property, leaving him with only a handful of photographs and the paintings he managed to rescue.

Seeing this video, Victoria Fasianou, the daughter of the renowned Greek artist Fassianos, and her mother Mariza tried to seek him out. Mariza Fasianou explained they were compelled to reach out with a message of support during such a difficult time.

As a gesture of solidarity, the family decided to send Auroux a reproduction of another iconic Fassianos piece, ”The Coffee Drinkers”, which they believed his mother would have loved.

Alekos Fassianos

Alekos Fassianos was born in Athens, Greece in 1935. He studied violin at the Athens Conservatory and painting at the Athens School of Fine Arts from 1955 to 1960. Fassianos lived in Paris for approximately 35 years of his life. He drew his artistic inspiration from ancient Greek pottery, Byzantine art, and the beauty of the Mediterranean landscapes of his native Greece.

Fassianos’ artwork emerged as a symbol of Greekness, seamlessly blending mythological elements with contemporary life, appealing universally beyond just the Greek audience, where he enjoyed significant popularity.

Often referred to as the Picasso of Greece by both critics and the public, Fassianos garnered immense admiration not only in Greece but internationally. This is why many of his works adorn public spaces across the country, including a mural at a subway station in the Greek capital.

Fassianos died three years ago, in January 2022.