Meet Odette Kouzou, the curator behind Myran Apenanti’s art

If Scandinavian design is all about the art of living comfortably, then here at Myran, we take the art part quite literally. From the very beginning, Myran has been more than just interior design — it’s been a celebration of creativity and inspiration in all their unexpected and authentic forms. So it should come as no surprise that our shop has become a regular gathering place for artists and art-lovers alike. (You can read a small part of that history in our recent story with visual artist Iannis Ganas).

We think it’s impossible to create a welcoming, inspiring space for modern living without a few favourite artworks on the walls. With its simplicity and unpretentious sophistication, Scandinavian design is the perfect accomplice to art, offering countless opportunities for visual and formal dialogues between design objects and artworks — creating a personalised and welcoming space. Our Apenanti showroom is living proof that character and cosiness can come from a curated mélange of design and contemporary art.

In that spirit, Myran is collaborating with curator Odette Kouzou on an ever-changing  exhibition at Apenanti that rotates organically, depending on the current furniture on display, the season or just the daily mood. Odette Kouzou’s keen eye for emerging artists and love of great design shape her curatorial choices for our space, where she often places rising Greek talent alongside our collection of furniture and objects. Thoughtfully put together — like stepping into an art collector’s apartment — Odette’s interventions at Myran Apenanti are full of surprises. Which, if you ask us, is exactly the Myran way of doing things.

We met up with Odette on a sunny Saturday in Apenanti, for a conversation about her collaboration with Myran. 

Unboxing original works of art on the floor of Myran Apenanti is not how Odette spends most of her time. She is a young curator working alongside art advisor Aphrodite Gonou, and she’s also the founder of Thermia Project on the island of Kythnos.

Emma Soucek, R is for Rendered, 2011, collage, acrylic paint, glue, 183 x 122 cm

Eugenia Vereli, Under the asphalt there is soil, 2024, Pencil, crayons, oil pastel, fabric on canvas, 70 x 90 cm

What do you call yourself? 

I’m a curator dedicated to discovering new artists and working closely with them to support and present their work.

Can you describe your background in one sentence?

I work alongside art advisor Aphrodite Gonou, who consults for major collections internationally; I’m also the founder of Thermia Project, an artist residency on the island of Kythnos focusing on emerging Greek artists.

What do you look for in a new artist?

I look for a distinctive element—something that makes an artist’s work instantly recognizable as their own. That unique visual language is what draws me in.

Is there anything all the artists you work with have in common?

I seek not only compelling and beautiful work, but also compelling and beautiful personalities. Since I work closely with the artists, a shared quality among them is their generous, thoughtful nature. They are not just talented, but also genuinely interesting and kind individuals.

Iasonas Kampanis, 100 Guardians

#11, 2024

Study on Hellenistic mosaic with leopard

oil on fabric mounted on wood, 24 x 21 cm

#8, 2024

Study on Hellenistic mosaic with leopard

oil on fabric mounted on wood, 24 x 21 cm

Konstantinos Mouchtaridis
Desert in the Sky, 2024, watercolour on paper, 83 x 62,5 cm (framed)
Toso Nero, 2024, watercolor on paper, 33 x 26 cm (framed)

How did the collaboration with Myran start? How has it evolved?

The collaboration began through Aphrodite Gonou, who was invited by the Myran team to curate a show. She brought me on board to co-curate the space as if it were a collector’s apartment. Since then, our collaboration with Myran has grown organically—we now work together on a regular basis. It’s a refreshing format that allows artworks to be presented in a lived-in, evolving environment, rather than in a traditional white cube. With the constant reconfiguration of the Apenanti showroom and the introduction of new design pieces, it’s always an exciting challenge to add and move artworks around the space.

What is the difference between showing art in an apartment environment than in a gallery space? What are the challenges? 

Presenting art in an apartment-like setting allows for a more intimate and layered dialogue between artworks, furniture, and design objects. These connections wouldn’t have emerged in a typical gallery setting. Of course, it can be challenging to strike a visual and conceptual balance, but it’s a process I deeply enjoy. The works feel more alive—less like static exhibits and more like elements of a real, personal space.

Do you follow any principles for choosing art for the Apenanti showroom? 

I choose artworks that resonate both aesthetically and conceptually with the space. Since the showroom is redecorated often, I look for bold pieces that invite dialogue with the furniture, the architecture, and the atmosphere of the room.

How do you feel that the work of these emerging Greek artists interplays with Scandinavian design furniture and the Palaiologos building from 1935?

It’s really fascinating to curate and bring together works by emerging Greek artists in a space that invites creativity. It’s a space enriched by the layered history of the building and the iconic Scandinavian design pieces on display, offering a uniquely inspiring atmosphere.

Your favorite Scandinavian design piece from Myran’s collection?

I just ordered the DEYA Coffee Table by Ferm Living, so that has to be my current favourite!

Photos by Alexandra Papoutsi