Private Museum Insights - How DESTE Foundation Stays Relevant for Almost Four Decades

Established in 1983 by art collector Dakis Joannou, DESTE —the Greek word for “look”, engages in an extensive exhibition program that promotes emerging as well as established artists through its exhibition space in Athens, Greece. DESTE Foundation’s core exhibition schedule is complemented by a number of projects, such as the DESTE Prize, awarded bi-annually to a young Greek artist; the Hydra Slaughterhouse Project, which takes place annually on the Greek island of Hydra; and the destefashioncollection, a project that aims to explore the connections between contemporary art and fashion. Throughout the decades, DESTE has collaborated internationally with various institutions, from the Palais de Tokyo in Paris to the New Museum in New York.

On the occasion of DESTE’s current exhibitions of Jeff Koons and Kaari Upson, LARRY’S LIST had a conversation with founder Dakis Joannou, who explained his motivation of setting up the space in a slaughterhouse on Hydra island; his visions for the foundation in the upcoming years; as well as his advice to future foundation founders.

https://www.larryslist.com/artmarket/private-museum-insights/how-deste-foundation-stays-relevant-for-almost-four-decades/