George Zongolopoulos was born in 1903, in Athens. He graduated from the Athens School of Fine Arts and then moved to France and Italy for further studies. His gradual shift from realism to abstraction started during the 1950s, although his sculpture remained anthropocentric, often inspired by historical events. Art historian Denys Zacharopoulos notes: “Throughout his life, whether adopting figuration or abstraction, and in spite of the bold experimental and original nature of his work, he was deeply committed to history. His sculptures flow in space as he experimented, in his long creative career, with all kinds of materials and media, engaged with all art forms and styles, yet never ceased to be aware of and to communicate that public space is fluid, in motion and dynamic with respect to time, nature and man.” Zongolopoulos said: “What I seek to achieve through my work is to make every human being communicate with whatever they desire and reminisce, no matter how unrealistic or impossible this might be. Besides, art serves our hidden desires, doesn’t it?”