On March 29, 2025, the Dope Gallery in Deerfield Beach hosted Capturing Greece, a vibrant cultural exhibition that brought together the visual storytelling of two Greek-descended artists: photographer Andrew Pateras and multimedia artist Greg Christakis (GStakis). Bathed in sunlight and brimming with community energy, the event was a joyful immersion into the beauty, depth, and vibrancy of Greek culture.
Andrew Pateras: Photography with a Soulful Lens
Andrew Pateras, a seasoned photojournalist and globetrotting documentarian, brought an emotive and timeless body of work to the exhibit. With over 15 years of professional experience, Pateras has carved a respected niche in travel and cultural photography. His technical proficiency — from lighting and composition to post-processing and aerial drone imaging — allows him to capture moments that are both visually arresting and emotionally resonant.
He is particularly known for his ability to photograph in natural light, harnessing it to elevate texture, color, and atmosphere — especially in sun-drenched locations like the Mediterranean. Pateras’s work often bridges the documentary and the artistic, combining journalistic truth with creative vision. His images are not just snapshots; they are carefully constructed stories, designed to evoke feeling and preserve history.
Drawing from years spent traveling across the Greek isles and mainland, his exhibition work captured both the grandeur and intimacy of Greece — the sun-bleached pillars of ancient ruins, the quiet dignity of village elders, and the electric color of daily life along the Aegean coast.
Each photo in Capturing Greece resonated with visitors through its deeply personal tone, offering a perspective that was as nostalgic as it was celebratory. With a background in both fine art and editorial photography, Pateras delivered a visual narrative that made viewers feel not only as if they had seen Greece — but as if they had lived a piece of it.
Greg Christakis (GStakis): Where Mythology Meets Modernity
Greg Christakis, professionally known as GStakis, is a Greek-American artist with a multidisciplinary background in visual arts, graphic design, and street-inspired mixed media. With a career spanning over a decade, Christakis has developed a distinctive visual language that bridges the traditional with the contemporary. His work reflects a deep engagement with Greek cultural identity, often filtered through the lens of modern urban life and personal symbolism.
Christakis’s experience includes a broad range of creative disciplines — from digital illustration and gallery installations to large-scale murals and collaborative public art projects. His technical versatility allows him to blend mediums with confidence, layering photography, paint, spray, ink, and found materials into works that pulse with energy and meaning. Each piece is built with intention, often referencing Greek mythology, Byzantine iconography, or philosophical archetypes, reinterpreted through abstract forms and expressive gestures.
At Capturing Greece, Christakis presented new works that challenged the viewer to consider cultural memory not as something static, but as something alive — morphing, mutating, and reasserting itself in the modern world. His art brought motion and bold color to the gallery, offering a counterpoint to Pateras’s grounded realism. Together, their works created a rich, multifaceted conversation about Greek identity across generations and geographies.
Christakis’s contribution to the event was more than visual — it was conceptual. His presence reminded viewers that heritage is not just inherited, but actively created through expression, exploration, and reinvention.
The Event: A Daylong Celebration of Greek Culture
Held on a sunny Saturday, Capturing Greece was more than an art exhibition — it was a full-fledged cultural celebration that brought the Greek spirit to life in the heart of Deerfield Beach. From the moment guests arrived at the Dope Gallery, they were greeted with the sounds of traditional Greek music, the warm smiles of fellow attendees, and the tantalizing aroma of Mediterranean cuisine.
The gallery space itself was transformed into a vibrant expression of Greece — with crisp white walls adorned with azure-toned seascapes, ancient ruins, and modern artistic interpretations of Greek life. The indoor-outdoor flow allowed for a casual, inviting atmosphere, where guests could explore the art while enjoying the sun and mingling freely under shaded tents.
The food, provided by local Greek businesses and community members, was a true highlight. Fresh Greek salads were served in elegant single cups, alongside savory offerings like spanakopita, dolmades, lamb souvlaki, and sweet treats such as koulourakia and baklava. This generous spread was as much a feast for the senses as the artwork itself.
Community was at the heart of the event. Families with Greek roots connected over stories of their heritage, while others experienced Greek culture for the first time — through taste, sight, and conversation. Children laughed and played, artists shared stories behind their pieces, and the air buzzed with celebration and curiosity.
What made Capturing Greece truly special was its spirit of togetherness. It wasn’t just about showcasing art — it was about honoring a culture, building bridges between generations, and creating space for dialogue around identity and heritage. It served as a living example of how art can preserve tradition while also pushing it forward.
From the carefully curated artwork and the thoughtful hospitality, to the genuine moments of connection between guests and artists alike, the event was a powerful celebration of Hellenic pride and creative expression.
A Community Gathering
More than just an art show, Capturing Greece became a pop-up agora — a place where ideas, stories, and smiles were freely exchanged. Visitors enjoyed artist talks and impromptu discussions about Greek identity, artistic process, and the importance of preserving cultural heritage in modern times.
Greek artists, business owners, and local creatives showed their support, demonstrating how the diaspora continues to shape and support the cultural narrative of Greece from abroad.
Capturing Greece reminded everyone that culture is not static — it is alive in the way we tell stories, create art, prepare food, and come together in celebration. For one sun-drenched Saturday in Deerfield Beach, a piece of Greece was alive and thriving, thanks to the artists and the community who showed up to honor it.
