Vaia A. Karagianni

Vaia A. Karagianni is an Expert Art and Antiquities Conservator and Restorer. She was born in Karditsa, Greece. She studied Law at the Democritus University of Thrace in Greece, where she earned her Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.). She was licensed by the Thessaloniki Bar Association and worked as a lawyer in law firms in Thessaloniki, Greece, specializing in various fields of law, including legal matters related to cultural heritage and art.

After her legal career, driven by her strong passion for art and cultural heritage, combined with her artistic skills, she decided to pursue training in order to actively contribute to the protection and preservation of cultural heritage in practice. It was then she completed four-year professional courses in Artworks and Antiquities Conservation and Restoration in Thessaloniki, during which  she acquired in-depth knowledge of advanced techniques for preserving and restoring historical artworks and applications of approved materials in accordance with international standards and ethical principles of art conservation. 

She completed her practical training at the Conservation and Restoration Laboratory of Senior Expert Art and Antiquities Conservator and Restorer Venizelos Gavrilakis in Thessaloniki.

In 2012, she co-founded Ieri Parakatathiki Labs alongside Venizelos G. Gavrilakis in Thessaloniki. Through her high-quality services, the laboratory became a renowned company of conservation and restoration services for historical artworks and antiquities in Greece, gradually expanding into Turkey.

In 2022, Karagianni and Venizelos Gavrilakis established VENIS STUDIOS in Istanbul, which embodies the principles of "The Science and Art of Conservation & Restoration." As a co-founder and expert art and antiquities conservator/restorer of VENIS STUDIOS, she manages and works both in the lab and in situ on numerous conservation and restoration projects involving artifacts and antiquities owned by museums, churches, art galleries, government organizations and private collections in Greece, Europe, Turkey, USA, and the UAE. She collaborates successfully in conservation teams and experts from around the world.

With 15 years of experience working on significant historical artworks and antiquities, she has become a specialist in the conservation and restoration of Byzantine and post-Byzantine icons, paintings, Ottoman-era artworks, antiquities, historical and modern artworks of several materials, like canvas, wood, stone, metal, ceramic, textile, and others. Her work is distinguished by her consistent perseverance, strong attention to detail, and profound sensitivity to the artworks, combined with her deep technical knowledge of restoration and conservation practices. 

Additionally, she has extensive experience in condition and conservation reports, documenting of artworks and antiquities, including detailed descriptions, measurements, photography, initial condition assessments, and research on necessary conservation treatments. She has prepared these documentations in several historical and cultural sites, such as museums, churches, art galleries, and other locations.

Karagianni also serves as the editor for the scientific studies, publications, and articles produced by VENIS STUDIOS. She has published articles in journals in Istanbul and the international journal Conservation of Works of Art (IIC). She has also presented their research, along with the President of VENIS STUDIOS, at prominent institutions in Istanbul, such as the Conservation and Restoration Department of Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts and Istanbul University, as well as at important conservation conferences internationally. 

Her ultimate goal is to contribute to the preservation of our cultural heritage for future generations, ensuring that all individuals can benefit from the cultural, human, social, and spiritual messages conveyed by each artwork.