Independent Collectors

Neon

Founded by collector Dimitris Daskalopoulos, Neon breaks with the conventional model of an art foundation.

Nikos Navridis, Try again. Fail again. Fail better, 2013. Galvanized sheet metal, oven paint, LED. Photo: George Charisis. Courtesy of Neon
Nikos Navridis, Try again. Fail again. Fail better, 2013. Galvanized sheet metal, oven paint, LED. Photo: George Charisis. Courtesy of Neon

Over the past two decades, Greek collector and entrepreneur Dimitris Daskalopoulos has amassed a collection of more than 500 works by 220 artists, including John Bock, Sarah Lucas, and Lynda Benglis. In 2013, Daskalopoulos founded NEON, a non-profit organization that works to bring contemporary culture closer to everyone. In 2021, NEON, financed entirely by Daskalopoulos, renovated the former Public Tobacco Factory in Athens in partnership with the Hellenic Parliament to which the building belongs. The renovated 6,500 square meter space, gifted back to the Parliament for public use, aims to make the former Tobacco Factory stand out as a permanent contemporary cultural and social space and was inaugurated in June 2021 with Portals, an exhibition of works by over 59 artists, including 15 new site-specific installations commissioned by NEON. In April 2022, Daskalopoulos donated over 350 artworks to 4 museums in 3 countries to create a pioneering network of collaborations and synergies.

For more information visit the Neon website