Biography

Born in Sabac, Serbia. Graduated from the Academy of Art in Novi Sad. Master’s degree in painting in 2000. PhD in painting graduated from Belgrade in 2017. Exhibited independently in many republic and international exhibitions.

XXI century, 2023. Acrylic on cardboard, 50 x 40 cm.

The most important exhibitions include:
MA exhibition, Novi Sad 2000; exhibition of paintings, Belgrade, 2002; invited exhibition for the Night of the Museum, Sabac, 2009; PhD exhibition of drawings and paintings, Belgrade, 2012; invited exhibition organized in Sabac in 2012 and Loznica in 2013.

Scream, variant I, 2011. Acrylic on cardboard, 100 x 70cm.

Important group exhibitions:
Biennale in Florence 2017, Biennale in Trieste (twice at the invitation of the organizer, 2020 and 2022), introducing the artist’s oeuvre in a 10-minute video at the 50th Belgrade October Salon; exhibition by selector's invitation, modern drawing in Serbia 2003; October Salons in Šabac, spring and fall salons in Belgrade; international exhibitions of small format, etc. Long study period in France and Italy.

Scream, variant II,2011. Acrylic on cardboard, 100 x 70cm.

Member of ULUS (Association of Fine Artists of Serbia), vice-president of the Art Council of ULUS from 2011 to 2013. A member and president of the jury at several republic exhibitions.

Scream, variant XXI, 2012. Acrylic on cardboard, 40 x 30cm.

The most important awards:
Art Academy, Novi Sad, 1981; October Salon, Šabac, 1997; for portrait, Sabac, 1997; for painting, Loznica, 2000; the international award “Andrea Mantegna”, Mantova, 2017; Annual prize ULUS, Sabac, 2018; Prize for drawing, Sabac, 2018; international award “Tribute to TIZIANO”, Venice, 2018; the international award “Premio Canaleto”, Italy, 2018; The World of Art magazine Award, London, 2024, etc.
Present in several institutions and private collections abroad.

Red female nude,1997. Acrylic on canvas, 120 x 90cm.

Artist Statement

***Cycle: Figure and Space**
The figure is my deepest choice. This is my field of exploration for a possible expression that will realize the unity of form and meaning. In my opinion, the image must carry an energy that destroys any indifference in the observer and leaves a strong impression on them. If that charge does not exist, the image is empty.

Man and ambrela, 2010. Acrylic on cardboard, 100 x 70cm.

My paintings are a product, a reaction to my life experiences, based on my relationship with the given reality; my poetics actually dwell on that dark side of life—both personal and universal. Perhaps they are my images on the other side of beauty, but I want to express feelings of horror, fright, and the tragic aspects of human existence.

loneliness, 1998. Acrylic on canvas,120 x 91cm.

The lonely figure in space is my formal expression of defining human existence as an experiential relationship to space and time, an expression of alienation. By placing the figure in darkness, it faces its source from which it came and into which it will inevitably return. The cruelty of my images reflects a cruel reality. It embodies my understanding of the truth that I want to confront the observer with.

Exit, 1999. Acrylic on canvas, 180 x 120cm.

**Cycle: The Scream**
The scream, as a theme, is the product of my inner unrest, a manifestation of a kind of human denudation—denudation to the color of flesh. This denudation is metaphorical, not natural—descriptive. Although the red color, whether we want it or not, indicates blood and living flesh. If the most dominant experience of the scream is a reaction to fear and the hopelessness of a situation or state, then it is indeed a revelation of humanity to its core.

Escalators, 1999. Acrylic on canvas 175 x 130cm. 1999.

It represents a dead end; we are powerless and scared, and we do not know where to turn or how to escape—we are seeking help. Whether we are aware of it or not, every scream is a call for assistance. This reflects the primordial nature of humans as social beings, where we turn to one another, and that is the only way we can survive.

Space, 2000. Acrylic on canvas,180 x135cm.

While I paint "The Scream," sometimes I feel (or is it a subconscious desire?) that I am not painting it, but rather that it thunderously emerges from my depths, born out of some great storm within me. In those moments, I am in a state of inspiration, and the creation of the image of a scream is swift, roughly the duration of a real scream.

The staircase, 2000. Acrylic on canvas, 175 x 130cm.

These are affective-creative moments when the act of creation is more intuitive and sensual than intellectual; moments that, through powerful movements and gestures, resemble action painting, yet I build a recognizable form.

Figure and space, 2000. Acrylic on canvas, 125 x 90cm.

In this way, the rendered image is more a result of my inner need than of conscious desire. When I create a form with wide, powerful strokes, I feel most liberated from all negative and pressing emotions.

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