About the museums

Hambis Municipal Printmaking Museum, Nicosia

The Hambis Municipal Printmaking Museum is located in the heart of old Nicosia, within the Venetian walls, housed in a beautifully renovated traditional bakery on Ammochostou Street.

In 2014, the non-profit Hambis Printmaking Museum School, in collaboration with the Municipality of Nicosia, founded the Hambis Municipal Printmaking Museum in Nicosia. Without state funding, the creation of the Museum was made possible thanks to the mobilization of volunteers and friends who contributed financially and practically to the revival of the semi-ruined building “The Bakeries” within the city’s Venetian walls. With the love of students and friends of the school, the museum today is a unique gem in the Capital.

This Museum is the natural continuation of the first of its kind in Cyprus, founded in 2007 by internationally recognized Cypriot printmaker Hambis Tsangaris and the non-profit Hambis Printmaking Museum School in the village of Platanisteia, Limassol district. The Nicosia Museum was inaugurated by the Mayor of Nicosia, Constantinos Yiorkadjis, in December 2019.

At the Hambis Municipal Printmaking Museum, selected works from the rare and rich collection are presented, covering five centuries of printmaking history—from the 16th century to today. At the same time, temporary exhibitions are held featuring works by contemporary artists and historical prints from major collectors’ archives.

Visitors to the Museum can not only admire the exhibits but also participate in printmaking workshops held throughout the year in the Museum’s equipped studio, where they can explore and experiment with various techniques and methods of printmaking.

Throughout the year, the Museum offers educational programs for students of all levels, as well as a variety of cultural activities—from film screenings and book presentations to small concerts, theatrical readings, and lectures aimed at highlighting the work of Cypriot and international artists.

Hambis Printmaking Museum, Platanisteia

The Hambis Printmaking Museum is located in the small village of Platanisteia in the Limassol district.

Its founding in 2007 was part of Hambis’ lifelong vision: for the Cypriot people to discover the art of printmaking, to learn how a print is created, and to become familiar with the works of both contemporary and historical artists. It is a unique endeavour – the first printmaking museum in Cyprus.

The museum opened in the summer of 2008 with a modest collection of a few hundred works, almost all donated. Hambis himself generously contributed his small personal collection and his own works, while Cypriot and Greek printmakers, along with collector friends, enthusiastically offered their support. Donations continue to this day, constantly enriching the collection.

Despite limited financial resources, the museum gradually began acquiring works by important artists. Occasionally, unique opportunities arise to obtain true “treasures.”

The Museum’s collection includes works by great artists from around the world, from the early 16th century to the present time. It also includes illustrated books, printing plates, tools, and samples of various printmaking techniques. The Museum’s vision is to introduce the public to international masterpieces of printmaking, while also promoting Cypriot printmaking and its creators.

It hosts temporary exhibitions and renews its displays annually. It’s not uncommon for “drawers to be opened” to fulfil a visitor’s wish to see a non-exhibited work. The collection is protected, but above all, it is offered to the public.

In short, it is a journey into the world of printmaking—through time and space—a meeting with a lesser-known, yet deeply human and expressive form of art.