8th BIENNIAL OF PAINTING
April 28th – June 21st, 2026
The 8th Biennial of painting, a manifestation of national importance, organized by the Croatian Society of Fine Artists (HDLU) will be held at the Klovićevi dvori Gallery in Zagreb, from 28th April until 21st June 2026.
The Biennial of painting represents a broad selection from generations that actively shape the Croatian painting scene, with the aim of recording the current two-year production and articulating contemporary tendencies in painting. Since the Meštrović Pavillion – the usual central venue of the Biennial – is currently undergoing renovation, this year’s edition was developed in collaboration with numerous partner institutions and is being realized as the most extensive one to date.
After the initial presentation in Varaždin, where the Biennial was opened at the City Museum of Varaždin (Sermage Palace and Herzer Palace) and the Kovačić Macolić Gallery, the Zagreb stage at the Klovićevi dvori Gallery forms one of the key exhibition sections of this year’s edition.
After Zagreb, during the year 2026 the Biennial will also be presented at the Poreč Public University, the Vukovar City Museum and the Providur’s Palace in Zadar, thus becoming present in various regions of Croatia and bringing the contemporary Croatian painting scene closer to a wider audience.
Traditionally, as part of the Biennial of Painting, an international exhibition is presented also, which, according to the concept of the guest curator, presents a selection of an art scene of a single European city. So far, the cities presented were Berlin (2011), Vienna (2013), Gdansk (2015), Prague (2017), Leipzig (2019), Dublin (2021) and Vilnius (2023).
At the 8th Biennial of Painting the Croatian painting scene will be faced with the Austrian painting scene, and the guest exhibition Beyond Boundaries: Perspectives on Contemporary Painting from Graz, with the concept of curator Luise Kloos. The judging panel of the 8th Biennial of Painting, consisting of members: Elizabeta Igrec, Koraljka Kovač, Željko Marcijuš, Martina Miholić, Leila Topić, Bojan Šumonja and Josip Zanki, has selected (based on a public tender procedure) 59 artists and has invited 5 artists to participate.
Artists: Grgur Akrap, Mia Akrap, Gordana Bakić, Maša Barišić, Mihael Bađun, Natalia Borčić Peuc, Leonardo Budimlić Majnarić, Sebastijan Dračić, Lora Elezović, Fedor Fischer, Ivana Fischer, Danica Franić, Danko Frišćić, Martina Grlić, Paulina Jazvić, Sanja Jureško, Marta Katavić, Teo Kiš, Anita Kos, Slaven Kosanović, Gordana Kovačić Macolić, Radovan Kunić, Mirna Kutleša, Lucia Labas, Tomislav Lončarić, Slaven Macolić, Ivica Malčić, Mia Maraković, Ivan Marković, Mitar Matić, Marina Mesar OKO, John Miličić, Zdravko Milić, Oliver Mišura, Andrea Musa, Lav Paripović, Luisa Pascu, Pavle Pavlović, Anamaria Pekšić, Lea Popinjač, Patricija Purgar, Mihaela Rašica, Domagoj Rogina, Maja Rožman, Jelena Sokić, Tara Stanić, Miran Šabić, Gorana Težak, Josip Tirić, Predrag Todorović, Šimun Tolić, Andrej Tomić, Vladimir Tomić, Laslo Vaštag, Bojana Vukojević and Danijel Žeželj.
Invited artists: Biserka Baretić, Bartol Galović, Zlatko Keser, Zoran Šimunović and Zlatan Vehabović.
Visiting international exhibition
Beyond Boundaries: Perspectives on Contemporary Painting from Graz, Austria
Curator: Luise Kloos
At this year’s Biennial of Painting, the Croatian audience has the opportunity to familiarize itself with the recent work of artists from Graz and the wider Styrian region. The works of art are not tied to a predetermined thematic concept, but represent free explorations of contemporary painting – from abstraction and analytical painting to figuration, experimental processes and multidisciplinary approaches.
Artists explore the boundaries of painting space, question the perception of the viewer, reflect on social and psychological contexts, and use color, shape, light and spatial elements to visually and emotionally engage the audience. The exhibition demonstrates the plurality of expressions and generational diversity, while at the same time confirming the constant evolution of painting from the 20th century to the present day.
Artists: Alfredo Barsuglia, Violetta Ehnsperg, Alexander Grimm, Luise Kloos, Anja Korherr, Erwin Lackner, Rebecca LittleJohn, Nadine Nebel, Mirjam Schrei and Paul Zwietnig-Rotterdam.
