Manolis Fragkiadakis was born in Heraklion, Crete, where he currently resides. His main occupation was trade. He has been painting (he is a self-taught painter) since his early school years, particularly since high school. He became more active in 1970, a period during which painting became his main & favourite activity.

He has been a member of the Chamber of Fine Arts of Greece since 2004. He has held 11 solo exhibitions and taken part in more than 20 group exhibitions in Greece, Cyprus and Switzerland. His first solo exhibition was held at St. Mark Basilica, in Heraklion, in 1981. Moreover, he is one of the founding members of the Hellenic Photographic Society, branch of Heraklion and one of its most active members since 1965! He has taken part in many photo exhibitions and competitions and has won many medals, accolades in Greece and abroad.

As a painter, he uses all visual creation means (oil, watercolour, pastel, charcoal, egg tempera, acrylic, inks, etc.). However he is particularly drawn to watercolour and pastel.
Most of his works are inspired by Greek nature, especially Crete and the islands. His works are mainly seascapes and they are original works of art.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

• 1981 St. Mark’s Basilica, Heraklion
• 1985 OLYMPIC Hotel, Heraklion
• 1988 STAVRAKAKIS Art Gallery, Heraklion
• 1991 Heraklion ART Hall
• 1996 ARIADNI Art Gallery, Heraklion
• 2000 ANDROGEO MUNICIPAL HALL, Heraklion
• 2002 ARIADNI Art Gallery, Heraklion
• 2006 St. Mark’s Basilica, Heraklion
• 2010 Hellenic Photographic Society, branch of Heraklion
• 2018 Hall at Trifytsou & Evans Street, Heraklion
• 2022 St. Mark’s Basilica, Heraklion

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

• 1981 Group exhibition of works by Cretan artists, St. Mark’s Basilica
• 1986 Group Exhibition held at the Cultural Centre of Sitia
• 1988 Group Exhibition held in Cyprus, organised by the MUNICIPALITY OF HERAKLION,
in the framework of the twinning of cities, Limassol
• 1988 Pancretan exhibition of works by young artists-painters, STAVRAKAKIS Gallery
• 1988 Nautical week, Koules Fortress, Heraklion Port Authority
• 1989 CAPSIS Hotel, World Medical Congress
Organised by the movement of artists from Heraklion
• 2000 Group painting exhibition for the Nautical Week.
Hosted by: Heraklion Port Authority
• 2005 International Art Festival. Hosted by: ΟΜΜΑ STUDIO,
Contemporary Art Centre, Chania
• 2007 Group exhibition of works by painters from Heraklion, held in Switzerland
• 2007 During the World Endocrinology Congress, Terra Maris Hotel
• 2007 “Εν Ηρακλείω τη…”, Exhibition by the Network of Visual Artists, St. Mark’s Basilica
• 2010 “SILENCES”, Exhibition by the Network of Visual Artists, St. Mark’s Basilica
• 2011 “LIMIT”, Exhibition by the Network of Visual Artists, St. Mark’s Basilica
• 2011 “ACCESSIBLE ART”, Exhibition by the Network of Visual Artists, Hall Α3
• 2012 “MY GREECE”, Exhibition by the Network of Visual Artists, St. Mark’s Basilica
• 2019 “ART EN ROUTE”, Exhibition by the Network of Visual Artists, Heraklion Cultural Centre, (Municipality of Heraklion), CULTURA ’19, and others.