My name is Philippos Yiapanis. I was born in Famagusta, Cyprus on 8.1,1957 and when I was 17 years old I had to leave my town due to the Turkish invasion in Cyprus and the occupation of Famagusta by the Turkish troops.

I studied  Shipbuilding in Greece and when I returned to Cyprus I could not work as a  Shipbuilder so I worked in the family business.

Many people ask me why I started making sculptures. Why quit everything else and start out of nowhere to create in bronze. There was nobody to teach me, nobody to show me how to start. I was confident I could do it and I did it.

My first contact with sculpture was in high school, in Famagusta, when I made a wooden sculpture. The wish to be a sculptor was always there, but came true after many years, when I was 35 years old. I started working with clay in my free time, and the hobby becomes my full time work.

I had my first solo exhibition in 1996, which was followed by more solo and group exhibitions all over free Cyprus.

I have just finished my studio in a small village named Fasoula, 8 kilometers north of Limassol. My intention is to invite sculptors from abroad, offer them a room to stay and a place to work for as long as they like. It has a very big garden with many sculptures, a pond full of fish, water dropping from a stone wall and a small open theater called “Small Salamis” where I plan to organize different art events during full moon summer nights.

A place full of art and romance

Filippos Yiapanis is a cyprus sculptor from Famagusta and lives in Limassol. He is one of the best sculptors and artists in cyprus. Giapanis sculptor studio is in fasoula and his gallery of art consists of all kinds of sculptures. Morfi Gallery, art studio, Small Salamis, Famagusta