AHEPA Sydney & NSW Inc has announced “Ode to Freedom”, a compelling exhibition by Greek Australian artist Angela Kiki Konstantinopoulou, commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Exodus of Missolonghi.
With the valued support of The Hon. Steve Kamper MP, Minister for Multiculturalism, this powerful collection will be showcased at the Fountain Court, Parliament House of New South Wales, from Tuesday 5 May to Thursday 28 May 2026.
The exhibition is presented under the auspices of the Consulate General of Greece in Sydney.
Through Angela Kiki’s deeply expressive works, “Ode to Freedom” illuminates the long‑standing ties between Hellenism and New South Wales, celebrating shared values of courage, democracy, and resilience.
The exhibition will feature a compelling selection of Angela Kiki’s original paintings, including portraits of key heroes of the Greek War of Independence, whose courage and sacrifice helped shape the modern Hellenic nation. Among the standout works is her striking interpretation of Lord Byron, honouring his profound connection to Missolonghi and his enduring legacy within the Greek struggle for freedom.
This exhibition commemorates 200 years since the heroic Exodus of Missolonghi on 10-11 April 1826, Orthodox Easter Sunday. The defenders of that port in western Greece included Gordon Lord Byron amongst their number. After enduring years of privation, the few surviving defenders decided a heroic last charge was better than continued hunger and deprivation. They selected the early hours of Easter Sunday for their martyrdom.
The collection also turns its gaze to Australia, with pieces that illuminate the stories of the first Greeks in Australia, including a tribute to Katherine Crummer (née Plessos) – the first known Greek woman to settle in Australia – whose life reflects an early and important chapter in the shared history of Hellenism and New South Wales.
Angela Kiki is a Greek Austalian artist whose work blends historical narrative with expressive contemporary technique. Her paintings are characterised by bold colour, emotional depth, and a meticulous attention to storytelling, reflecting years of dedicated research into the heroes, struggles, and defining moments of Greek history.
Angela Kiki’s artistic practice centres on re‑imagining pivotal events and personalities, transforming them into vivid visual experiences that speak to both cultural memory and modern identity. Her ability to bridge past and present – honouring the legacy of freedom, resilience, and human spirit – has positioned her as a distinctive creative voice within Australia’s multicultural artistic landscape.
The public is warmly invited to mark the bicentenary of the 1826 Exodus of Messolonghi by visiting this special exhibition at the Fountain Court, Parliament House of NSW, between 5–28 May 2026.
The exhibition will be open weekdays 9:00am to 5:00pm and entry is free.
