Yiannis Moralis (1916–2009) was one of the most important figures of modern Greek art. Born in Arta in 1916, he moved permanently to Athens in 1927.

He studied at the Athens School of Fine Arts and graduated in 1936. After completing his studies, he received a scholarship from the Academy of Athens and continued his artistic education in Rome and Paris. In Paris, he studied painting and fresco techniques at the École Nationale des Beaux-Arts and mosaic art at the École des Arts et Métiers.

In 1947, Moralis was elected Professor at the Athens School of Fine Arts, a position he held until 1983, influencing generations of young Greek artists. In 1958, he represented Greece at the Venice Biennale alongside Antonis Sochos and Yiannis Tsarouchis, further establishing his international reputation. In 1959, he designed the celebrated linear compositions that decorate the Northwest and Southeast sides of the Hilton Hotel in Athens.

Throughout his career, Moralis collaborated with leading figures of Greek literature and theatre.

He illustrated books by renowned poets such as Odysseas Elytis and Giorgos Seferis, created murals and engravings in various media, and designed sets and costumes for the National Theatre of Greece, the Karolos Koun Art Theatre, and the Greek Chorodrama.

Today, his paintings can be found in numerous public and private collections in Greece and abroad.

The generation of Greek painters to which Giannis Moralis belonged, including artists such as Yiannis Tsarouchis and Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghika, left a profound mark on modern Greek art.

They succeeded in combining European modernist movements with Greek traditions, history, and light, creating a unique artistic identity. Their work influenced not only later generations of Greek painters but also shaped the cultural image of modern Greece internationally. Through their teaching, exhibitions, and artistic innovations, these painters established a lasting legacy that continues to inspire artists and art lovers today.