Bronze sculpture by Philippos Yiapanis stolen in Limassol

Over the past weekend, on 20 or 21 June 2026, a newly made bronze work by the renowned Cypriot artist Philippos Yiapanis was stolen from the sculpture park in Fasoula, Limassol district. The sculptor completed it on Friday, 19 June, and installed it on the site together with five other new works. The perpetrators may have taken advantage of the artist’s absence, as he was in Nicosia on Saturday. Philippos Yiapanis doubts that the thieves were after scrap metal, since the other, smaller works on the site were left untouched. The artist has offered a reward of 5,000 euros for information on the sculpture’s whereabouts.

Philippos Yiapanis was born in Famagusta in 1957, became a refugee after the 1974 Turkish invasion and was taken prisoner. He began working in sculpture at the age of 35 as a self-taught artist, working mainly with bronze and marble. The theme of freedom and the memory of his lost homeland is central to his work. The artist’s works are installed in public places in Cyprus, including Protaras and Kouklia, and have also been exhibited abroad.

In Fasoula, the sculptor created his own open-air park, «Mikra Salamina», in memory of the occupied ancient Salamis. The park includes a summer amphitheatre and the Art Nest gallery, and its collection comprises more than 170 works, about 120 of which are displayed outdoors. Yiapanis’ work has been recognised with international awards, including participation in the Florence Biennale and the Olympic competition in Beijing, and in October 2024 the exhibition in his park was officially opened by Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides.

Over the past weekend, on 20 or 21 June 2026, a newly made bronze work by the renowned Cypriot artist Philippos Yiapanis was stolen from the sculpture park in Fasoula, Limassol district. The sculptor completed it on Friday, 19 June, and installed it on the site together with five other new works. The perpetrators may have taken advantage of the artist’s absence, as he was in Nicosia on Saturday. Philippos Yiapanis doubts that the thieves were after scrap metal, since the other, smaller works on the site were left untouched. The artist has offered a reward of 5,000 euros for information on the sculpture’s whereabouts.

Philippos Yiapanis was born in Famagusta in 1957, became a refugee after the 1974 Turkish invasion and was taken prisoner. He began working in sculpture at the age of 35 as a self-taught artist, working mainly with bronze and marble. The theme of freedom and the memory of his lost homeland is central to his work. The artist’s works are installed in public places in Cyprus, including Protaras and Kouklia, and have also been exhibited abroad.

In Fasoula, the sculptor created his own open-air park, «Mikra Salamina», in memory of the occupied ancient Salamis. The park includes a summer amphitheatre and the Art Nest gallery, and its collection comprises more than 170 works, about 120 of which are displayed outdoors. Yiapanis’ work has been recognised with international awards, including participation in the Florence Biennale and the Olympic competition in Beijing, and in October 2024 the exhibition in his park was officially opened by Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides.