The internist and self-taught painter Panos-Ioannis Papanakos was born in Thessaloniki in 1930 and passed away in 1999.
He began painting during high school. He initially lived in Vasilika, later in Polygyros (1933–1938), and thereafter in Thessaloniki. He attended the Experimental School of Thessaloniki, where his art teacher was the painter P. Regkos, and participated in exhibitions for the school’s students and alumni (from 1947 onwards). He studied at the School of Medicine of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh) and worked as a medical internist. During a visit to Athens in 1952, he met the painter G. Sikeliotis and became acquainted with his work.
He painted maniacally from 1965 onwards, always using tempera, influenced by P. Regkos, G. Paralis, N. G. Pentzikis, and N. Fotakis (with the latter two being the most decisive), as well as by Van Gogh and the expressionists. With passion and tenderness, he painted landscapes of Chalkidiki, houses, churches and shrines, people (primarily working-class individuals), animals, and plants, as well as themes from tradition and military life, utilizing an incredible variety of colors and shapes. His work exudes a lyrical mood; according to himself, it falls under expressionism with folk and naive elements. Depending on his impulse, it ranges from naturalism to surrealism, capturing memories and personal experiences (serving as a kind of personal diary), his love for nature and tradition (he adored Alexandros Papadiamantis), and the inner fluctuations of the artist’s sensitive psyche.
His few written works include art criticism notes, book reviews, and short stories. His photographs were exhibited at the “Diagonios” Little Art Gallery.
He held solo exhibitions in Florence (his first, in 1970), Thessaloniki, Kilkis, and Athens, and participated in group exhibitions in Thessaloniki, Athens, Polygyros, and Cologne (1989). He was a regular participant at the “Diagonios” Little Art Gallery of his childhood friend Dinos Christianopoulos, where he essentially debuted his work (a solo exhibition in 1974, a joint exhibition with G. Anastasiadis and F. Zoglopitis in 1978, and 95 group exhibitions between 1974–1989).