The painter and author Kostas Lachas (Lachanidis) was born in Kato Theodoraki, Kilkis, in 1936 and passed away in Thessaloniki in 2014.
He studied at the Department of Economic and Political Studies at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, trained at Karolos Koun’s Art Theatre School, and performed roles in both theatre and cinema. He was a highly active member of the ‘TECHNI’ Macedonian Art Society from 1961, the year he discovered painting, for which he was later awarded the Ford Foundation Grant in 1971.
He worked in the administration of the National Theatre of Northern Greece (1961–1965) and the secretariat of the Thessaloniki International Film Festival. He served as the director of the Vellideio Cultural Center (1987–1995). He founded and directed Thessaloniki’s first professional-grade art gallery, ‘Kochlias’ (1972–1986). On his own initiative, the Kilkis branch of ‘TECHNI’ was established in 1980.
He was also involved in literature and poetry, and contributed articles on art-related topics to Thessaloniki newspapers.
An expressionist influence is evident in his paintings; later, his style became more intensely critical, particularly during the dictatorship period.
He held solo exhibitions in Thessaloniki, Florina, Athens, and Stockholm, and participated in group exhibitions in Thessaloniki and Athens.