ABOUT US
The Region of Thessaly is the official organizer of Tloupas PATH, an initiative launched by Regional Governor Dimitris Kouretas with the support of Vania Tloupa, who is committed
preserving and championing the legacy of her father, Takis Tloupas.
Leveraging the power of digital technology, the Tloupas PATH Festival brings cultural heritage closer to the public, offering access to the artist’s invaluable photographic collection.
Under the direction of Dimitris Koilalous and Olga Stefatou — both accomplished photographers with recognized bodies of work/both renowned photographers in their own right — he festival will host two major photography competitions in 2025: an international competition, and a national competition for emerging Greek artists. The winning works will be showcased in annual exhibitions across Thessaly and beyond.
This new cultural venture is part of the Region of Thessaly’s revitalized vision for the Arts, which has become a key priority, particularly in the wake of the devastating impact of Storm
Daniel. Driven by the belief that art and culture are vital to the region’s development, the relevant authorities are promoting similar initiatives across Thessaly, with a strong emphasis
on the region’s distinctive identity — the very foundation of its universal appeal.
ARTISTIC ADVISORS
Dimitris Koilalous was born in Athens. He studied Urban and Regional Planning in Edinburgh and Geography in London. Since 1990, he has lived and worked in Greece as a professional photographer. He has collaborated extensively with numerous public and private institutions, governmental and municipal bodies, banks, museums, state and regional theatres, and music production companies. His work has been widely published in both the daily and periodical press. Since 2004, he has also taught photography in public and private institutions. His works are part of several private and public collections, including those of: the Arab Image Foundation, the HeadOn Photo Foundation CENTER Sant-Fe and the Thessaloniki Museum of Photography. His work has been exhibited in festivals, museums, and galleries in Greece, France, Ireland, the United States, Australia, Malaysia, Wales, Georgia, Portugal, and Lithuania, and has received numerous awards and distinctions.
His first book, “CAESURA; the duration of a sigh”, was published by Kehrer Verlag in July 2018 and received numerous distinctions. His latest book, “Athens 42 Days”, also published by Kehrer Verlag in December 2024, presents a systematic and detailed visual chronicle of the Greek capital during the 42-day COVID-19 lockdown. “Athens 42 Days” is a piece of our collective memory, capturing the anxiety and fear of those bleak days, while highlighting the melancholic and solitary identity of a modern metropolis.
Olga Stefatou is a photographer, photography consultant, and educator teacher. Her work has been featured in both solo and group exhibitions internationally, including at the Aga
Khan Museum (Canada), Doha Fire Station Art Space (Qatar), Los Angeles Month of Photography, Head On Photo Festival (Australia), Les Boutographies and Gallery Negpos (France), Photon Gallery (Slovenia), Synthesis Gallery (Bulgaria), MOMus – Thessaloniki Museum of Photography, the Benaki Museum, Photometria Festival, and the Athens Photo Festival.
Her photographs have been published in major international media such as Der Spiegel, Die Zeit, The Economist, NBC News, and Vanity Fair. In 2021, she was selected by Dior, along with nine other Greek women photographers, to shoot the Cruise 2022 collection. In 2015, she was the only Greek crew member to participate in the pioneering Solar Impulse mission — the first flight around the world powered exclusively by solar energy.
In recent years, Olga Stefatou has worked with Qatar Museums, initially (2018–2020) as Senior Photography Specialist for the organization’s photographic collection, and later in 2023 as Live Program Curator for the Tasweer Photo Festival. From 2014 to 2022, she curated the visual arts program and parallel events of the Saristra Festival in Kefalonia.