Vaia A. Karagianni is an internationally experienced Senior Expert Art Conservator and Restorer, Co-Founder and Director of VENIS STUDIOS, an international Art Conservation & Restoration Consultancy dedicated to the preservation, conservation, and responsible management of exceptional artworks, cultural heritage, and significant collections worldwide.

Combining professional experience in law, cultural heritage, and conservation, Karagianni brings a distinctive multidisciplinary perspective to the preservation of artworks and heritage collections. Her expertise encompasses the examination, documentation, conservation, and restoration of historic paintings, fine art, Byzantine and post-Byzantine icons, Ottoman-era artworks, antiquities, and diverse cultural heritage objects across different materials and historical contexts.

Her background in law provides an additional dimension to her professional practice, supporting a comprehensive understanding of cultural heritage protection, professional responsibility, documentation requirements, and the broader institutional frameworks surrounding the preservation and management of significant cultural assets.

Karagianni holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from Democritus University of Thrace, Greece, and is a licensed lawyer with the Thessaloniki Bar Association. She later specialized professionally in art conservation and restoration, earning a Professional Diploma in Art & Antiquities Conservation and Restoration and developing advanced knowledge in conservation methodologies, ethical principles, technical documentation, and the appropriate application of conservation materials according to internationally recognized professional standards.

Her professional conservation formation was developed through intensive practical training at the conservation laboratory of Senior Expert Art Conservator and Restorer Venizelos G. Gavrilakis in Thessaloniki, where she participated in the examination, research, documentation, conservation, and restoration of significant historic artworks and cultural heritage objects.

In 2012, together with Venizelos G. Gavrilakis, she co-founded Ieri Parakatathiki Labs, a specialized art conservation and restoration laboratory undertaking important cultural heritage preservation projects in Greece and Turkey. In 2020, they established VENIS STUDIOS, founded on the philosophy: “The Science and Art of Conservation & Restoration.”

As Co-Founder and Director of VENIS STUDIOS, Karagianni plays a central role in the coordination, documentation, research, and management of conservation projects for museums, cultural institutions, galleries, governmental organizations, ecclesiastical institutions, foundations, and distinguished private collections internationally.

With more than 15 years of professional conservation experience, her expertise includes the conservation and restoration of paintings, icons, historical artworks, archaeological and cultural objects, and collections created in diverse materials including wood, stone, metal, ceramics, textiles, and other heritage materials.

Her professional approach is characterized by meticulous research, accurate documentation, technical precision, and a deep understanding of the historical, cultural, and human significance embodied within each artwork. She contributes particularly to the preparation of condition assessments, conservation reports, technical documentation, artwork registration, and collection preservation strategies.

Karagianni has contributed to significant conservation projects internationally, including the conservation and restoration of a 19th-century icon of Saint Nicholas in Manhattan, New York, undertaken together with Venizelos G. Gavrilakis following an invitation connected with the visit of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the United States.

Beyond conservation practice, Karagianni contributes to professional research, publications, and knowledge development within the field. As editor and curator of VENIS STUDIOS’ scientific studies, publications, and professional articles, she has contributed to international conservation discourse, including publications in professional journals such as Conservation of Works of Art. Together with Gavrilakis, she has presented research at respected academic institutions and international conservation events, including Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts, Istanbul University, and professional heritage conferences.

Through the combination of legal expertise, conservation knowledge, scientific documentation, and cultural heritage management, Vaia A. Karagianni represents the interdisciplinary philosophy of VENIS STUDIOS — preserving the authenticity, historical significance, and cultural value of exceptional artworks and collections for future generations.