The DESTE Foundation for Contemporary Art has opened Gen X: Tales from the Forgotten Generation, a new exhibition showcasing works from the Dakis Joannou Collection that explore the experiences and cultural identity of Generation X.
Curated by Massimiliano Gioni of New York’s New Museum, the exhibition features artists born between 1960 and 1980—a generation that came of age between the analog and digital eras while witnessing the rise of 24-hour news, MTV, and an increasingly commercialized global culture.
Drawing from one of the world’s leading contemporary art collections, the exhibition examines how artists responded to this period of rapid social and technological change through a visual language marked by sincerity, irony, and the detached sensibility often associated with Generation X.
The works on display range from lowbrow-inspired imagery and deconstructed fashion references to unsettling, mutant-like figures reflecting the anxieties of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the early impact of emerging technologies. Other artists turned inward, creating deeply personal imaginary worlds, while some embraced collaborative practices to engage more directly with society.
Together, the exhibition highlights the diverse artistic responses of a generation whose work continues to resonate with contemporary audiences.
Gen X: Tales from the Forgotten Generation runs from June 18 through November 26, 2026, at the DESTE Foundation for Contemporary Art in Athens. Admission is free.
