The self-taught painter and engraver Nikos Gialouris was born in 1928 on Chios, where he passed away in 2006.
He had been painting since childhood, and during the Axis occupation, he first discovered the folk art of Chios. In 1962, he met painters Yannis Mitarakis, Yannis Tsarouchis, Fotis Kontoglou, and Periklis Byzantios. He studied Byzantine and Greek folk art, was influenced by Sino-Japanese art and European Expressionism, and loved Karagiozis. His works are dominated by landscapes, still lifes, and scenes of a symbolic character. He decorated ships, hotels (such as Porto Carras in 1975), the villa of shipowner G. Carras, and the Chios Homerion Cultural Center.
He was also involved in poetry and authorship, writing books such as guides and art albums.
He held solo exhibitions on Chios, in Athens, and Thessaloniki, and participated in group exhibitions in Greece and abroad.
He donated his work to the Municipality of Chios, and in 2005, the Gialouris Museum was established by the Municipality of Chios.