Peter Reginato doesn’t seem particularly interested in final answers—least of all about himself. “I’ve heard of artists who have found themselves,” he says. “I never want to find myself. It’s more fun to just keep innovating.”
That sense of restless curiosity runs through CHROMA, Reginato’s first solo painting exhibition in Athens, presented during his visit to the Greek capital and currently on view at Sianti Gallery until May 31.
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Known primarily for his sculptural work, the New York-based artist turns his attention here to painting—presenting a selection of works produced over the last eight years, many of which have remained in his personal collection until now.
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At 79, Reginato describes this body of work as some of his most meaningful to date. “It started almost as a joke,” he explains, referring to the loose grid-like forms that became a recurring structure in the series. “I called it Cubism for dummies. I was laying down these columns or stripes, and it suddenly looked like a painting on top of a painting.”
This layering of visual planes led Reginato to explore a new kind of figure-ground relationship—an element that recurs throughout CHROMA. The compositions, though abstract, often flirt with recognisable forms, or at least the suggestion of them. They rely on spontaneity as much as structure: poured, brushed, and occasionally spotted paint creates a surface that is open to accident, and occasionally, to surprise.
Summer school, enamel on canvas, 244 x 178 cm, artwork by Peter Reginato.
Unlike many abstract painters who avoid recognizable forms, Reginato allows them to appear naturally in his work. He doesn’t force meaning but lets shapes and suggestions surface through the process. That relaxed approach gives his paintings a quiet confidence—they don’t try to prove anything, but invite you to look.
Painting Meets Poetry
Adding another layer to the experience, CHROMA also features three original poems by American writer and academic Michael Sickler. Each poem responds to one of Reginato’s paintings, forging a thoughtful conversation between image and text. Known for his lyrical, introspective writing, Sickler helps frame the paintings in new ways—reminding us that abstraction can be both emotional and intellectual.
The result is a rare and intimate exhibition. It’s not just about looking at art—it’s about feeling it, engaging with it, and maybe even laughing with it. Because for all its serious technique, CHROMA is above all a joyful invitation: to lighten up, to see differently, and to let colour lead the way.
CHROMA by Peter Reginato
On view at Sianti Gallery, Athens, until May 31
Opening hours:
Tuesday & Thursday: 10:00–20:00
Wednesday: 10:00–15:00
Saturday: 10:00–16:00
