THE ODYSSEY – DEFY THE GODS

An Art Exhibition Inspired by Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey

Michael Cacoyannis Foundation

Opening: July 17, 2026, at 7:00 PM
On the day of the film’s worldwide premiere

On the occasion of the worldwide release of Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated epic film The Odyssey, the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation, in collaboration with Gallery Historiart, presents the art exhibition THE ODYSSEY – DEFY THE GODS, opening on Friday, July 17, 2026, at 7:00 PM, coinciding with the film’s global premiere.

The exhibition will debut in Los Angeles on July 13, before traveling to Athens, followed by London and Melbourne. The original artworks, posters, and all printed material presented in the exhibition are officially licensed by Universal Pictures, the production company behind Nolan’s The Odyssey.

Continuing its longstanding commitment to promoting Greek cultural heritage through contemporary artistic expression, the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation invites visitors to experience an exhibition that bridges Homer’s timeless epic with contemporary cinema and international visual art.

As Vincent Jacot, founder of Historiart, explains, the exhibition—organized in collaboration with Popcore, “creates a unique dialogue between contemporary cinema, visual arts, and the timeless world of Homer, highlighting the enduring power of The Odyssey as a universal cultural symbol.”

Historiart is a creative studio and art platform based in San Antonio, Texas, collaborating with some of the world’s leading contemporary artists to produce works inspired by history, nature, and art. Together with their partners at Popcore, a company specializing in high-quality collectible screen-printed and digital posters created in collaboration with movie theaters, concert venues, television, and film studios, they developed this international project.

The exhibition is divided into two distinct thematic sections.

THE ODYSSEY – DEFY THE GODS

The first section features works by internationally acclaimed artists inspired by Christopher Nolan’s cinematic adaptation of The Odyssey. Through painting, digital illustration, and contemporary visual practices, the artists interpret the film’s mythology and visual language while presenting striking portraits of its cast—including Matt Damon and Zendaya—as modern embodiments of an eternal epic.

THE WRATH OF GODS

The second section is an independent artistic project dedicated to Greek mythology. Greek contemporary artists reinterpret The Odyssey and the world of the Olympian gods through their own artistic language, exploring themes such as hubris, fate, vengeance, homecoming, trial, and human transcendence.

Featuring both fine art prints and original artworks, the exhibition connects ancient myth with timeless questions of the modern world, demonstrating that Greek mythology continues to be an inexhaustible source of inspiration for contemporary international art.

Throughout the exhibition, visitors will also have the opportunity to acquire collectible posters inspired by both THE ODYSSEY – DEFY THE GODS and THE WRATH OF GODS, creating a unique collection celebrating the meeting of cinema and visual arts.

According to Xenia Kaldara, President and General Director of the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation:“The Odyssey is one of the greatest works of world literature and, nearly three thousand years after its creation, continues to inspire artists across every artistic discipline. Remaining faithful to its mission of highlighting the timeless relevance of Greek cultural heritage through contemporary artistic expression, the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation is proud to present THE ODYSSEY – DEFY THE GODS, collaborating with Historiart and fostering a meaningful dialogue between cinema, visual arts, and mythology.We are especially proud to present to the Greek public, immediately following its premiere in Los Angeles, an exhibition of international standards that connects contemporary filmmaking with the inexhaustible power of Greek myths. We hope visitors will enjoy a unique cultural experience in which art becomes a bridge between the past, the present, and the future.”

EXHIBITION INFORMATION

Opening Reception: Friday, July 17, 2026, 7:00 PM

Exhibition Dates: July 17 – August 2, 2026

Venue: Michael Cacoyannis Foundation

Opening Hours: Daily, including weekends, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Collectible posters inspired by both thematic sections of the exhibition will be available throughout the exhibition.

Participating Artists THE ODYSSEY – DEFY THE GODS

The Odyssey – Defy the Gods

THE WRATH OF GODS

  • Nafsika Tzanoulinou –TEN YEARS HAVE PASSED-NAUSICA
  • Onita K.- HERA
  • Revolver Art (Vagelis Petikas) –ITHACA CAN WAIT

The Wrath of Gods          

Artists Bio

  • Vagelis Petikas is a Greek illustrator and graphic designer based in Athens. Working under the name RevolverDart, he creates highly detailed illustrations inspired by classical engraving, mythology, and Renaissance aesthetics. His work has been commissioned by internationally acclaimed artists and bands including Metallica, Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Alter Bridge, A Perfect Circle, Avenged Sevenfold, Jerry Cantrell, and many others.
  • Alexia Othonaiou is a visual artist, illustrator, and comic artist. Her illustrations and comics have been published in a wide range of Greek newspapers and magazines. She has illustrated children’s books and has participated in comic and painting exhibitions in Greece and abroad. In 2021, she founded Curious Attic, her personal brand offering handmade items, art prints, and illustrated goods.
  • Onita K is a freelance illustrator, comic artist and graduate of the Athens School of Fine Arts. Focusing on the creation of original characters and immersive universes, her inspiration stems from the evocative mystery and aesthetics of the Victorian era, classical music and opera. Her artistic vision is also shaped by personal experiences and the people who have influenced her.
  • Marilena Mexi was born in Athens in 1986 and is an illustrator and writer, a graduate of AKTO School of Applied Arts, with professional experience in creative studios, publishing houses, and international collaborations (including Fantasy Flight Games and Oxford University Press). Her work has been presented internationally in exhibitions and events such as the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, Moscow Book Fair, and London Super Comic Con, and she has published illustrated novels and contributed to fantasy anthologies and festivals. She currently lives and works in Thessaloniki, where she founded MagicNest Studio, teaching classical painting to children while continuing to combine illustration, writing, and inspiration from folklore and mythology.
  • Jon Toussas is a Digital Illustrator and Graphic Designer based in Athens, Greece, with a primary focus on the music industry. He has created numerous album artworks, merchandise designs, and visual assets for bands and artists across Greece and around the world, transforming sound into bold and distinctive visuals.
  • Nafsika Tzanoulinou is a sculpture student at the Athens School of Fine Arts and a graduate of the Department of Social and Educational Policy at the University of the Peloponnese. Her practice focuses on sculpture, natural materials, casting processes, and site-specific installations.
  • George Caltsoudas is a Greek illustrator best known for his work in the world of alternative film posters and art prints. George’s style is a contemporary take on gouache illustrations with a strong focus on world building and storytelling through prominent geometric shapes and an unusual harmony of both bright and muted colours. His process involves a mixture of hand drawn sketching with digital colouring and having the music on full blast, with an ice cold freddo espresso by his side.
  • Born in Athens, Kostas Pantoulas is an artist, comic creator, and educator who has been active in the industry since the late 2000s. He gained international recognition for his work on American and European comic books, particularly his adaptation of Irwin Allen’s Lost in Space: The Lost Adventures and his artwork for titles like Freak Snow and Gilgamesh Eternal. Beyond his global projects and exhibitions, he has made a strong impact on the local Greek art scene by releasing original series like Soldier Kane and Thekla, launching the anthology magazine Epifany Comics, and designing album covers for several major musicians.
  • Giannis Nakos has been expressing himself via art since a very young age and through the years he managed to turn his love for it into something loved and cherished. Now he is working for the music industry, creating album covers and shirt illustrations while trying to ever evolve and remain creative in a world that praises lazy AI tactics.