A new, temporary exhibition opens at the AG Leventis Gallery presenting a previously unknown archive of well-known artists Christoforos Savva’s work that was recently discovered. In Christoforos Savva: Simple – Complicated – Invisible: An Unknown Archive, new light is shed on the artist’s creative process, revealing hidden aspects of his oeuvre.

Running from today until June 28, the exhibition includes artworks, sketches, studies, photographs and personal notes from one of the pioneering figures in Modern Cypriot Art (1924-1968).

“The story of its discovery is as remarkable as the archive itself,” says the gallery. “In 2020, Eleni S Nikita, the first curator of the Cyprus Collection of the AG Leventis Gallery, was introduced by collector Charalambos Sergiou to a portfolio of works. It had been entrusted to him by a Turkish Cypriot friend as a gesture of reconciliation and remembrance. What was thought to be a small gift soon revealed itself to be part of a much larger and invaluable archive of Savva’s work, dating from 1946 to 1968, a testimony to enduring friendships that transcended political and communal divides.”

The archive was built thanks to the friendship and collaboration of Savva with the father of the Turkish Cypriot donor, a well-known collector and client of the artist. Their friendship and story are also a moving chapter in the modern history of Cyprus, making art a bridge of communication.

“Between 2021 and 2024,” the gallery continues, “the archive was studied and catalogued under the guidance of Nikita, whose deep knowledge and decades-long research made her the leading authority on Modern Cypriot Art and a most valuable collaborator. She sadly passed away in 2024, leaving this work as her final legacy. This exhibition is therefore dedicated to her memory, honouring both her invaluable contribution to Cypriot art history and her commitment to the mission of the AG Leventis Gallery.”

More than 100 years after his birth, with this exhibition the AG Leventis Gallery pays tribute to Christoforos Savva and remains steadfast in its mission to showcase and study modern Cypriot Art, offering the public the opportunity to rediscover an artist who left a lasting mark on his time.

Christoforos Savva: Simple – Complicated – Invisible: An Unknown Archive

Exhibition with never-seen-before artworks and archival material of the artist. Curated by the late-Eleni S. Nikita, Katerina Stephanides and Despina Christofidou. Assistant Curator: Styliana Ioannidou. November 21-June 28. A. G. Leventis Gallery, Nicosia. Opening night: 7pm. www.leventisgallery.org. Tel: 22-668838