Women in the cities

In celebration of Mother's Day, Urbanic captured the everyday lives of women living full and beautiful lives as mothers. We extend our respect and gratitude to all mothers around the world.

Chris Kontos & Athina Delyannis, Athens

Athina Delyannis @athina_delyannis, an illustrator, designer, and model, and Chris Kontos @kennedymagazine, a photographer and editor-in-chief of Kennedy Magazine — a couple based in Athens.

A day with this warm family of three, who find happiness in the everyday moments of learning, sharing, and creating alongside their six-year-old son Atlas. Candid moments between mother and son, captured through Chris Kontos's own lens.

Athina wears the Atelier Shirt, Heritage Denim Pants, Chinese Jacket, Judy Denim Pants, Baseball Cap, and Agos Muni Cap.

U: Please briefly introduce yourselves.

Chris & Athina: I'm Chris Kontos, editor-in-chief and photographer of Kennedy Magazine, and I'm Athina Delyannis, a designer and illustrator. We live and work in Athens. Our son Atlas is six years old — calm, thoughtful, and incredibly creative. He's growing up surrounded by books, objects, and ideas.

U: What did life look like for you both before becoming parents?

Chris: Before we became parents, our lives were filled with work. We both traveled a lot and spent a good amount of time abroad. We lived in the heart of Athens, a vibrant, cosmopolitan city alive with energy. We went out often; not exactly a party-centered lifestyle, but our days were always fully scheduled. Athina was going into the office and dedicating a lot of time to her career, while also running multiple creative projects at the same time.

Athina: Chris was constantly traveling and working across different countries. It was a rich and dynamic life — just a very different pace and focus from what we have now.

U: Are there moments where you feel like you're growing alongside your child?

Chris & Athina: Absolutely. Becoming parents changed us a lot as a couple. We learned what it really means to be a real team — not just being emotionally close, but actually building something together. Raising a child requires looking in the same direction, and finding that alignment took real effort. We're both creative people, and that sensibility has naturally seeped into the way we raise Atlas. We're constantly talking with each other and with him. As much as we're raising Atlas, he's shaping us in so many ways too.

U: Is there a place or moment where you feel most like yourself?

Chris: There's one place we both agree on — Amorgos (an island in the eastern Aegean, known for its rugged cliffs, traditional whitewashed villages, and quiet charm). We've been going there almost every year for the past decade — like a pilgrimage. It's an island with a raw, rugged landscape. Getting there isn't easy, and getting around once you're there isn't particularly comfortable either. In the mornings, mist lingers over the hills for a long time. The untouched nature, cliffs dropping down to the sea, gives us energy and a sense of restoration.

On a personal level, London is where I feel most like myself. I've been going there since childhood, so it feels like a second home, and the energy there always sparks something creatively.

Athina: For me, it's Basel. It's connected to memories from my childhood, and it's a place where urban life and nature coexist without tension. The quiet and the convenience, the design and craft, the culture — it all comes together in a way that gives me the balance I need. These places each reflect something different about who we are.

U: How do you maintain a balance between being a mother and your own dreams and identity?

Athina: Becoming a mother has made me more myself in the most profound way. Before, I think I was spending too much energy on others. But when Atlas was born, everything shifted naturally and completely.

That change made me look back at myself. There was no room left for pretending or acting out of obligation. Thinking about what I wanted to pass on to my child made living authentically feel urgent. That's what brought me back to making things — drawing, illustrating, creating objects and furniture. Over time, I realized I'm not someone who simply enjoys creativity. I'm an artist who needs to create.

Becoming a mother made that clearer than ever, and gave me the freedom to fully embrace it.

U: What was your favorite Urbanic piece from today's shoot?

Athina: I especially loved the shirt with its slightly vintage feel (Athina wore the Atelier Shirt). It reminded me of clothing from the rural south of France. The fabric is delicate and light — perfect for summer — and the details were beautiful. It felt feminine yet structured, and at the same time carried a hint of workwear. A mix of softness, quiet romance, and a quiet severity. I'm so happy to have something I found truly beautiful.

U: What did you want to capture about your family through this shoot?

Chris: I wanted to capture real life — not staged moments. Our family is always full of warmth. Atlas is bright and playful. He's very comfortable in front of the camera; he's grown up around one. He enjoys being part of the process and seems to understand, in his own way, what these images might mean someday. I wanted to show our family's gentleness, our balance, and the honest texture of how we live.

U: Of all the photos you've taken of Athina and Atlas over the years, is there one that feels especially meaningful?

Chris: There's a photo of Athina and Atlas baking together in the kitchen. Cooking is a big part of our daily life, and Atlas has been naturally involved in preparing meals since he was very young. In the photo, they're sharing brioche they made together — something that happens regularly in our home. After school, we cook together, try things out, and sometimes Atlas takes the lead. It's a simple scene, but I think it captures how we live: learning, sharing, and making things together every day.

U: You've spent years documenting people and places. How is photographing your own family different?

Chris: In some ways, it's not different at all. Family has always been the first subject of my work. At Kennedy Magazine, we published a special issue dedicated to family, and it's something I return to often in editorial work. I've also exhibited work centered around the people closest to me. Photographing those nearest to you feels like a natural extension of the practice. Many photographers — Tina Barney, Larry Sultan, Stephen Shore — have worked with their immediate surroundings as a way of understanding the world.

I think there's something deeply cinematic about everyday life, and I often shoot on video to try and capture that quality. It's a balance between the real and the subtly dreamlike. Nothing is staged, everything is genuine — but there's always a certain atmosphere that makes a scene feel slightly other than ordinary.

U: What values matter most to you in raising Atlas? And what kind of person do you hope he grows up to be?

Athina: For me, the most important value is authenticity — having your actions match your words. It's something I was raised with, and even when it felt strict, it has always been my most fundamental belief.
Another value I've come to deeply believe in is that with time and will, most things can be done on your own. I try to consciously instill this in Atlas — a trust in himself, and the ability to correct, develop, and create. I believe that if you stay curious, engaged, and committed rather than passive, you can achieve far more than you'd expect. And I think that's what gives life its foundation.
I want to give Atlas all of this. I hope he grows up to be honest and grounded — and someone who knows how to be happy. Happiness is what has helped me grow, so I want to teach him to cherish the small moments, to stay clear-eyed and open rather than falling into unnecessary pessimism, and to understand that even within a complex world, there is always something meaningful and positive to create.

Kennedy Magazine, created by Chris Kontos and Athina Delyannis, is a Greek publication founded in 2013 and released annually. Centered around photography, music, and literature, the magazine explores the perspectives and ideas of those who have defined their own aesthetic and cultural journey — documenting places and people through words and images.