Born: April 2, 1923
Known for: Gregory Kondos is one of the top contemporary landscape painters in the country. His style of "painterly realism" and devotion to landscape has influenced generations of Sacramento painters.
Background: Kondos was born in East Lynn, Mass., and moved with his family to Sacramento in 1927. He enrolled at Sacramento Junior College in 1941 to study art. Two years later, he began three years of active duty during World War II. Upon his discharge, Kondos completed his degree, then switched to California State University, Sacramento, to pursue a college teaching career. In 1958, he accepted a position in the art department at Sacramento Junior (now City) College. Kondos retired in 1982. During his career, he painted an array of subjects, including the Sacramento River Delta, Yosemite Valley, Big Sur, the American Southwest, France and Greece.
A highlight: The Sacramento City College art gallery, which he founded, is named after him. He donated his Sacramento painting "River Palms" to hang in the Sacramento Room of the Sacramento Public Library in memory of his parents, Steve and Kanela Kondos.
In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.
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