Extraordinary Minas: The Story of Inspiration and Innovation in Kütahya Tiles and Ceramics

The exhibition, focusing on efforts to revive ceramic art in the late 19th and early 20th centuries through the work of a master and his remarkable pieces, opened to visitors on May 28, 2025.

Minas Avramidis (1877–1954) was a master craftsman, skilled in all aspects of traditional tile-making. His imagination and innovative spirit brought a unique voice to Kütahya ceramics. At the heart of the exhibition is his remarkable series of plates illustrating the Genovefa Story, produced in the 1910s. The series draws on a narrative centered on themes such as faith and loyalty, likely inspired by a serialized publication in Karamanlidika and a lithograph by Sotiris Christidis, once common in Greek Orthodox neighborhood coffeehouses. 

Blending the color palette, motifs, and forms of Kütahya’s deep-rooted ceramic tradition with his personal style, Minas skillfully bridged tradition and innovation, creating works that challenge established perceptions of Kütahya tiles.

The exhibition examines the concepts of master-apprentice relationships, craftsmanship versus mass production, and creative reinterpretation of heritage through the lens of Minas’s work. It also offers insights into the broader cultural landscape, tracing the stories of Kütahya masters who later dispersed to cities such as Athens, Thessaloniki, and Jerusalem in the second quarter of the 20th century. 

“Extraordinary Minas” invites viewers on a journey through memory, craft, and transformation in the world of Kütahya ceramics.