Museum of Cycladic Art

Located in Athens, Greece, the private Museum of Cycladic Art holds one of the most significant collections of works from the ancient Cycladic culture, which flourished in the islands of the Aegean Sea from around 3300 BC to 1100 BC. The islands were particularly rich in minerals, such as copper and lead ores, silver and marble, which allowed the islanders of the time to trade as well as develop great skills in metallurgy and marble carving. The abstract and stylized marble sculptures — mostly depicting the female form — are the best-known creations of Cycladic culture. The museum is home to more than 3,000 of these ancient objects, and in addition to permanent displays, it also hosts temporary exhibitions on archaeology and modern and contemporary art, with a particular focus on artists inspired by Cycladic art, such as Constantin Brâncuși, Amedeo Modigliani, Barbara Hepworth and Ai Weiwei. The Stathatos Mansion, one of the most important examples of 19th-century Neo-Classical architecture in Athens, connects to the main building by a glass-roofed corridor and is well-worth the visit in its own right.