Edo Murtic
Encyclopedia
Edo Murtić was a painter
from Croatia
, best known for his lyrical abstraction
and abstract expressionism
style. He worked in a variety of media, including oil painting
, gouache
, graphic design
, ceramics, mosaics, mural
s and theatrical set design. Murtić travelled and exhibited extensively in Europe and North America, gaining international recognition for his work, which can be found museums, galleries and private collections worldwide. He was one of the founders of the group "March" (Mart) in 1956, and received many international awards. In 1958 Murtić participated in the three biggest events in the world of contemporary art
: the Venice Biennale
, the Carnegie Prize
in Pittsburgh, and Documenta
in Kassel. Interest in the art of Edo Murtić continues to grow, with retrospective exhibits in major museums.
Murtić was a member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts
, and a member of the Croatian Helsinki Committee for Human Rights
.
near Bjelovar
, Croatia
(then in Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes
). He was the second child of Vinko and Franciska Murtić. Early in his childhood, the family moved to Zagreb
where Murtić received his education. He attended Craft School 1935-39, studying under Edo Kovačević, Kamilo Tompa and Ernest Tomašević. His first exhibition was held in 1935 at the Royal High School in Zagreb.
In 1939, Murtić enrolled in the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb under Ljubo Babić
and Krsto Hegedušić
. During 1940 he attended classes given by Petar Dobrović
in Belgrade
returning to Zagreb in 1941 to complete his studies at the academy.
Murtić was strongly influenced by socialist ideas, and at the outbreak of the Second World War he became involved in the anti-fascist movement. In the spring of 1944, Murtić joined the liberation forces, where he worked designing graphics, posters, and books.
In the years following the war, Murtić began to travel and exhibit extensively. During 1951 he spent time in the U.S. and Canada, where he encountered the abstract expressionism
movement. Back in Zagreb he was one of the founders of the group "March" (Mart) in 1956.
In 1958 Murtić participated in the three biggest events in the world of contemporary art
: the Venice Biennale
, the Carnegie Prize
in Pittsburgh, and Documenta
in Kassel.
Murtić's wife is Goranka Vrus Murtić, a well-known artist in her own right. Together they bought and renovated an old stone house in the town of Vrsar
, on the Istria
n coast. Although their main residence was in Zagreb, they spent much of each year in Vrsar. Of his summer house and studio, Murtić said "It is really nice here, I enjoy the silence and concentration that is irreplaceable... I do not know if I would find a more beautiful place anywhere in the world." The landscape there inspired many of his paintings, especially the "Montraker" cycle, which is named for the nearby Ancient Roman stone quarry.
Edo Murtić was a member of the Yugoslav Academy of Sciences and Arts (now the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts) and the Croatian Helsinki Committee for Human Rights
. He was named an honorary citizen of the town of Bjelovar
.
He died in Zagreb on January 2, 2005, aged 83.
, and gouache
, he also produced a variety of other works such as graphic design, ceramics, mosaics, murals, and theatrical set design.
Murtic's early work was mainly realistic paintings of interiors, portraits and still lifes, and graphical illustrations.
Following the Second World War, a new direction in art was taking place in North America, particularly New York where Abstract Expressionism
became a personal expression of the artists' feelings and experiences. At the same time in Paris, Lyrical Abstraction
was establishing a new identity. During the 1950s, Murtić experienced both art scenes at first hand. In America he encountered artists such as Willem de Kooning
and Jackson Pollock
, and in Europe he saw the work of Jean René Bazaine
, Alfred Manessier
, and Gustave Singier
. Murtić's own paintings of this time show the influence of these ideas as he developed his own personal style.
Towards the early 1960s, there were signs of Tachisme
and Art Informel in his work. His paintings on dark ground were almost monochrome, while those on a light ground showed a rhythmical movement of a dark mass across it. This distinctive theme became his trademark style, with increasingly dynamic strokes with intense, energetic colour.
During the 1970s, Murtić's works began appearing in public areas, such as in the Mirogoj Cemetery
in Zagreb, the Memorial in the Čazma Ossuary, the Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall, and the Zagrepčanka
office building (1975).
By the 1980s, Murtić was internationally recognized as one of the leading abstract painters from the socialist world. In the summer of 1981 he spent months sailing around the southern Adriatic coast. From that experience came his "Fires" (Požari) cycle, a masterful interpretation of the landscape using strong gesture and expressive colour.
The "Eyes of Fear" cycle (1981-4) was stimulated by a new edition of "Jama", a poem by Ivan Goran Kovačić
on the horrors of war. Once again committing himself to create the illustrations, Murtić immersed himself in the topic of war, violence, pain and fear. He uses the symbolism of two dark figures from mythology - the Minotaur and the Raven, who are depicted at various times as horse, bull and villain. A threatening atmosphere is created by these figures combined with a stark red and black colour scheme and the tension of his drawing.
The "Montraker" cycle (1992–95) was inspired by the Ancient Roman stone quarry near Vrsar, which became an important motif for Murtić. He was inspired not just by the landscape itself, but its history of being shaped by the hand of man. He portrayed the rocks and the surrounding views with the lights and shadows of different times of day, through the seasons and changing weather, giving a sense of the passage of time both in the landscape, and in himself.
Even in his most abstract work, Murtić remained connected with nature. The shapes of the landscape are expressed by gesture or selection of colour. The line of the hill, rock, or tree are portrayed without reference to volume, and his palette was based on the colours and lights of the surrounding landscape. Edo Murtić himself said of his paintings that he "drew these colours out of the Istrian landscape" and that it would be possible to talk of "some essence of colour".
In January 2010, an exhibit of Edo Murtić's "War" (Rat) opened at the Art Pavilion in Zagreb. Over 350 of his drawings, gouaches and collages on the subject of death, suffering, horror, and war were on display, presenting a strong humanist
and anti-war message. At the opening reception, guests included the President of the Republic of Croatia Ivo Josipovic
, Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor
, Deputy Prime Minister Jure Adlešić, Minister of Culture Božo Biškupić
, fellow artists, architects, musicians, directors and many others. In his opening remarks, Božo Biškupić called Murtić "one of the greatest Croatian artists of the second half of the 20th century" and one who "pointed the way to the beginning of a new century". The
Director of the Art Pavilion, Radovan Vuković described the exhibit as an "exceptional cultural and artistic event", and referring to the large crowd at the opening said "This confirms that Edo Murtić is not just a name, a symbol of Croatian culture and art of the 20th century, but that five years after his death still excites incredible interest".
The Murtić Foundation (Fundacija Murtić) has been established to ensure that his art will continue to be available for future generations. "The Foundation will contribute to building our national identity" said Ivo Josipovic, the Croatian President, "It deserves a museum because his work is great and very important, and the next generation will certainly want to see it.
Edo Murtić donated over 1,500 of his works to the City of Zagreb, including paintings, sculptures, mosaics, drawings, ceramics and enamels. An exhibit of 300 selected works "From the Murtić Donation" opened in the Museum of Contemporary Art, Zagreb
in October 2010. As part of the opening celebrations, the street on the east side of the museum was officially named in his honour.
Videos about Edo Murtic and his work on the World News website (in Croatian, with footage of the artist and his work)
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
from Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
, best known for his lyrical abstraction
Lyrical Abstraction
Lyrical Abstraction is either of two related but distinctly separate trends in Post-war Modernist painting, and a third definition is the usage as a descriptive term. It is a descriptive term characterizing a type of abstract painting related to Abstract Expressionism; in use since the 1940s...
and abstract expressionism
Abstract expressionism
Abstract expressionism was an American post–World War II art movement. It was the first specifically American movement to achieve worldwide influence and put New York City at the center of the western art world, a role formerly filled by Paris...
style. He worked in a variety of media, including oil painting
Oil painting
Oil painting is the process of painting with pigments that are bound with a medium of drying oil—especially in early modern Europe, linseed oil. Often an oil such as linseed was boiled with a resin such as pine resin or even frankincense; these were called 'varnishes' and were prized for their body...
, gouache
Gouache
Gouache[p], also spelled guache, the name of which derives from the Italian guazzo, water paint, splash or bodycolor is a type of paint consisting of pigment suspended in water. A binding agent, usually gum arabic, is also present, just as in watercolor...
, graphic design
Graphic design
Graphic design is a creative process – most often involving a client and a designer and usually completed in conjunction with producers of form – undertaken in order to convey a specific message to a targeted audience...
, ceramics, mosaics, mural
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
s and theatrical set design. Murtić travelled and exhibited extensively in Europe and North America, gaining international recognition for his work, which can be found museums, galleries and private collections worldwide. He was one of the founders of the group "March" (Mart) in 1956, and received many international awards. In 1958 Murtić participated in the three biggest events in the world of contemporary art
Contemporary art
Contemporary art can be defined variously as art produced at this present point in time or art produced since World War II. The definition of the word contemporary would support the first view, but museums of contemporary art commonly define their collections as consisting of art produced...
: the Venice Biennale
Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
, the Carnegie Prize
Carnegie Prize
The Carnegie Prize is an international prize for artists, awarded by the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.The prize should not be confused with the Carnegie Medal, which is awarded for children's literature....
in Pittsburgh, and Documenta
Documenta
documenta is an exhibition of modern and contemporary art which takes place every five years in Kassel, Germany. It was founded by artist, teacher and curator Arnold Bode in 1955 as part of the Bundesgartenschau which took place in Kassel at that time...
in Kassel. Interest in the art of Edo Murtić continues to grow, with retrospective exhibits in major museums.
Murtić was a member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts
Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts
The Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts is the national academy of Croatia. It was founded in 1866 as the Yugoslav Academy of Sciences and Arts , and was known by that name for most of its existence.- History :...
, and a member of the Croatian Helsinki Committee for Human Rights
Helsinki Committee for Human Rights
The Helsinki Committees for Human Rights exist in many European countries as volunteer, non-profit organizations devoted to human rights and presumably named after the Helsinki Accords...
.
Biography
Murtić was born on 4 May 1921 in Velika PisanicaVelika Pisanica
Velika Pisanica is a village and municipality in Bjelovar-Bilogora County, Croatia. There are 2,155 inhabitants, which 69% are Croats, and 14% Serbs....
near Bjelovar
Bjelovar
Bjelovar is a city in central Croatia. It is the administrative centre of Bjelovar-Bilogora County. During the 2001 census, there were 41,869 inhabitants, 90.51% which are Croats....
, Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
(then in Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a state stretching from the Western Balkans to Central Europe which existed during the often-tumultuous interwar era of 1918–1941...
). He was the second child of Vinko and Franciska Murtić. Early in his childhood, the family moved to Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
where Murtić received his education. He attended Craft School 1935-39, studying under Edo Kovačević, Kamilo Tompa and Ernest Tomašević. His first exhibition was held in 1935 at the Royal High School in Zagreb.
In 1939, Murtić enrolled in the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb under Ljubo Babić
Ljubo Babić
Ljubo Babić , was a Croatian painter, graphic artist, theatrical set and costume designer, teacher, art historian, critic, and museum curator. As an artist, he worked in a variety of media including oils, tempera, watercolour, drawing, etching, and lithography...
and Krsto Hegedušić
Krsto Hegedušic
Krsto Hegedušić was a Croatian painter, illustrator and theater designer. His most famous paintings depict the harsh life of the Croatian peasantry in the manner of naive art...
. During 1940 he attended classes given by Petar Dobrović
Petar Dobrovic
Petar Dobrović was a famous Serbian painter and politician born in Hungary.A proponent of Serbian colorism, he was known for portraits and landscapes...
in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
returning to Zagreb in 1941 to complete his studies at the academy.
Murtić was strongly influenced by socialist ideas, and at the outbreak of the Second World War he became involved in the anti-fascist movement. In the spring of 1944, Murtić joined the liberation forces, where he worked designing graphics, posters, and books.
In the years following the war, Murtić began to travel and exhibit extensively. During 1951 he spent time in the U.S. and Canada, where he encountered the abstract expressionism
Abstract expressionism
Abstract expressionism was an American post–World War II art movement. It was the first specifically American movement to achieve worldwide influence and put New York City at the center of the western art world, a role formerly filled by Paris...
movement. Back in Zagreb he was one of the founders of the group "March" (Mart) in 1956.
In 1958 Murtić participated in the three biggest events in the world of contemporary art
Contemporary art
Contemporary art can be defined variously as art produced at this present point in time or art produced since World War II. The definition of the word contemporary would support the first view, but museums of contemporary art commonly define their collections as consisting of art produced...
: the Venice Biennale
Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
, the Carnegie Prize
Carnegie Prize
The Carnegie Prize is an international prize for artists, awarded by the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.The prize should not be confused with the Carnegie Medal, which is awarded for children's literature....
in Pittsburgh, and Documenta
Documenta
documenta is an exhibition of modern and contemporary art which takes place every five years in Kassel, Germany. It was founded by artist, teacher and curator Arnold Bode in 1955 as part of the Bundesgartenschau which took place in Kassel at that time...
in Kassel.
Murtić's wife is Goranka Vrus Murtić, a well-known artist in her own right. Together they bought and renovated an old stone house in the town of Vrsar
Vrsar
Vrsar is a village in Istria, Croatia.Today, Vrsar is a tourist resort. Vrsar is situated close to a large archipelago with 18 unpopulated islets covered with Mediterranean plants....
, on the Istria
Istria
Istria , formerly Histria , is the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. The peninsula is located at the head of the Adriatic between the Gulf of Trieste and the Bay of Kvarner...
n coast. Although their main residence was in Zagreb, they spent much of each year in Vrsar. Of his summer house and studio, Murtić said "It is really nice here, I enjoy the silence and concentration that is irreplaceable... I do not know if I would find a more beautiful place anywhere in the world." The landscape there inspired many of his paintings, especially the "Montraker" cycle, which is named for the nearby Ancient Roman stone quarry.
Edo Murtić was a member of the Yugoslav Academy of Sciences and Arts (now the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts) and the Croatian Helsinki Committee for Human Rights
Helsinki Committee for Human Rights
The Helsinki Committees for Human Rights exist in many European countries as volunteer, non-profit organizations devoted to human rights and presumably named after the Helsinki Accords...
. He was named an honorary citizen of the town of Bjelovar
Bjelovar
Bjelovar is a city in central Croatia. It is the administrative centre of Bjelovar-Bilogora County. During the 2001 census, there were 41,869 inhabitants, 90.51% which are Croats....
.
He died in Zagreb on January 2, 2005, aged 83.
Legacy
Edo Murtić was a prominent representative of abstract painting. Primarily known for painting in oilOil painting
Oil painting is the process of painting with pigments that are bound with a medium of drying oil—especially in early modern Europe, linseed oil. Often an oil such as linseed was boiled with a resin such as pine resin or even frankincense; these were called 'varnishes' and were prized for their body...
, and gouache
Gouache
Gouache[p], also spelled guache, the name of which derives from the Italian guazzo, water paint, splash or bodycolor is a type of paint consisting of pigment suspended in water. A binding agent, usually gum arabic, is also present, just as in watercolor...
, he also produced a variety of other works such as graphic design, ceramics, mosaics, murals, and theatrical set design.
Murtic's early work was mainly realistic paintings of interiors, portraits and still lifes, and graphical illustrations.
Following the Second World War, a new direction in art was taking place in North America, particularly New York where Abstract Expressionism
Abstract expressionism
Abstract expressionism was an American post–World War II art movement. It was the first specifically American movement to achieve worldwide influence and put New York City at the center of the western art world, a role formerly filled by Paris...
became a personal expression of the artists' feelings and experiences. At the same time in Paris, Lyrical Abstraction
Lyrical Abstraction
Lyrical Abstraction is either of two related but distinctly separate trends in Post-war Modernist painting, and a third definition is the usage as a descriptive term. It is a descriptive term characterizing a type of abstract painting related to Abstract Expressionism; in use since the 1940s...
was establishing a new identity. During the 1950s, Murtić experienced both art scenes at first hand. In America he encountered artists such as Willem de Kooning
Willem de Kooning
Willem de Kooning was a Dutch American abstract expressionist artist who was born in Rotterdam, the Netherlands....
and Jackson Pollock
Jackson Pollock
Paul Jackson Pollock , known as Jackson Pollock, was an influential American painter and a major figure in the abstract expressionist movement. During his lifetime, Pollock enjoyed considerable fame and notoriety. He was regarded as a mostly reclusive artist. He had a volatile personality, and...
, and in Europe he saw the work of Jean René Bazaine
Jean René Bazaine
Jean René Bazaine was a French painter, designer of stained glass windows, and writer. He was the great great grandson of the English Court portraitist Sir George Hayter.-Studies:...
, Alfred Manessier
Alfred Manessier
Alfred Manessier was a non-figurative French painter, stained glass artist, and tapestry designer, part of the new Paris School and the Salon de Mai.-Biography:...
, and Gustave Singier
Gustave Singier
Gustave Singier was a Belgian non-figurative painter active in France as part of the new Paris School of Lyrical Abstraction and the Salon de Mai. He is buried in the Montparnasse Cemetery....
. Murtić's own paintings of this time show the influence of these ideas as he developed his own personal style.
Towards the early 1960s, there were signs of Tachisme
Tachisme
Tachisme is a French style of abstract painting popular in the 1940s and 1950s. It is often considered to be the European equivalent to abstract expressionism...
and Art Informel in his work. His paintings on dark ground were almost monochrome, while those on a light ground showed a rhythmical movement of a dark mass across it. This distinctive theme became his trademark style, with increasingly dynamic strokes with intense, energetic colour.
During the 1970s, Murtić's works began appearing in public areas, such as in the Mirogoj Cemetery
Mirogoj Cemetery
The Mirogoj Cemetery is considered to be one of the most beautiful cemetery parks in Europe and, because of its design, numbers among the more noteworthy landmarks in the City of Zagreb....
in Zagreb, the Memorial in the Čazma Ossuary, the Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall, and the Zagrepčanka
Zagrepcanka
Zagrepčanka is a business tower located in Zagreb, Croatia. The address is Savska 41, on the Savska Road and Vukovar Avenue intersection.-Technical information:Zagrepčanka is ranked 1st by height in Croatia...
office building (1975).
By the 1980s, Murtić was internationally recognized as one of the leading abstract painters from the socialist world. In the summer of 1981 he spent months sailing around the southern Adriatic coast. From that experience came his "Fires" (Požari) cycle, a masterful interpretation of the landscape using strong gesture and expressive colour.
The "Eyes of Fear" cycle (1981-4) was stimulated by a new edition of "Jama", a poem by Ivan Goran Kovačić
Ivan Goran Kovacic
Ivan Goran Kovačić was a prominent Croatian poet and writer of the 20th century.-Early life and background:He was born in Lukovdol , a town in Gorski Kotar, to Croatian father Ivan and Jewish mother Ruža . His middle name Goran stems from that...
on the horrors of war. Once again committing himself to create the illustrations, Murtić immersed himself in the topic of war, violence, pain and fear. He uses the symbolism of two dark figures from mythology - the Minotaur and the Raven, who are depicted at various times as horse, bull and villain. A threatening atmosphere is created by these figures combined with a stark red and black colour scheme and the tension of his drawing.
The "Montraker" cycle (1992–95) was inspired by the Ancient Roman stone quarry near Vrsar, which became an important motif for Murtić. He was inspired not just by the landscape itself, but its history of being shaped by the hand of man. He portrayed the rocks and the surrounding views with the lights and shadows of different times of day, through the seasons and changing weather, giving a sense of the passage of time both in the landscape, and in himself.
Even in his most abstract work, Murtić remained connected with nature. The shapes of the landscape are expressed by gesture or selection of colour. The line of the hill, rock, or tree are portrayed without reference to volume, and his palette was based on the colours and lights of the surrounding landscape. Edo Murtić himself said of his paintings that he "drew these colours out of the Istrian landscape" and that it would be possible to talk of "some essence of colour".
In January 2010, an exhibit of Edo Murtić's "War" (Rat) opened at the Art Pavilion in Zagreb. Over 350 of his drawings, gouaches and collages on the subject of death, suffering, horror, and war were on display, presenting a strong humanist
Humanism
Humanism is an approach in study, philosophy, world view or practice that focuses on human values and concerns. In philosophy and social science, humanism is a perspective which affirms some notion of human nature, and is contrasted with anti-humanism....
and anti-war message. At the opening reception, guests included the President of the Republic of Croatia Ivo Josipovic
Ivo Josipović
Ivo Josipović is a Croatian politician who has been President of Croatia since 2010. Josipović entered politics as a member of the League of Communists of Croatia , and played a key role in the democratic transformation of this party as the author of the first statute of the SDP that replaced the...
, Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor
Jadranka Kosor
Jadranka Kosor is a Croatian politician and former journalist. She is the current Prime Minister of Croatia, having taken office on July 6, 2009, following the sudden resignation of her predecessor Ivo Sanader. She is Croatia's first female Prime Minister since independence.-Early life:Jadranka...
, Deputy Prime Minister Jure Adlešić, Minister of Culture Božo Biškupić
Božo Biškupić
Božo Biškupić is a Croatian politician and lawyer, currently serving his third term as Minister of Culture in the Croatian Government .-Overview:Biškupić graduated from the University of Zagreb's Faculty of Law, and later earned a master's...
, fellow artists, architects, musicians, directors and many others. In his opening remarks, Božo Biškupić called Murtić "one of the greatest Croatian artists of the second half of the 20th century" and one who "pointed the way to the beginning of a new century". The
Director of the Art Pavilion, Radovan Vuković described the exhibit as an "exceptional cultural and artistic event", and referring to the large crowd at the opening said "This confirms that Edo Murtić is not just a name, a symbol of Croatian culture and art of the 20th century, but that five years after his death still excites incredible interest".
The Murtić Foundation (Fundacija Murtić) has been established to ensure that his art will continue to be available for future generations. "The Foundation will contribute to building our national identity" said Ivo Josipovic, the Croatian President, "It deserves a museum because his work is great and very important, and the next generation will certainly want to see it.
Edo Murtić donated over 1,500 of his works to the City of Zagreb, including paintings, sculptures, mosaics, drawings, ceramics and enamels. An exhibit of 300 selected works "From the Murtić Donation" opened in the Museum of Contemporary Art, Zagreb
Museum of Contemporary Art, Zagreb
The Museum of Contemporary Art is a contemporary art museum located on Dubrovnik Avenue in Zagreb, Croatia. It is the biggest and most modern museum in the country....
in October 2010. As part of the opening celebrations, the street on the east side of the museum was officially named in his honour.
Works
- Illustrations for "Red Horse" (Crveni konj) by Jure Kaštelan 1940
- Lithographs for "The Pit" (Jama) by Ivan Goran Kovačić. 1944
- Cycle "American Experience" (Dozivlja Amerike) including "Manhattan" (1950), "New York" (1950)
- "Autumn" Jesen (1962.)
- "Blue screen" Plava podloga (1964.)
- "Black Triangle" Crni trokut (1968)
- Memorial in Čazma ossuary, 1970s
- Tapestries at the Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall 1970s
- Mosaic in the ZagrepčankaZagrepcankaZagrepčanka is a business tower located in Zagreb, Croatia. The address is Savska 41, on the Savska Road and Vukovar Avenue intersection.-Technical information:Zagrepčanka is ranked 1st by height in Croatia...
building (1975) - Cycle: "Entrance to the Garden"( Ulaz u vrt) 1970s
- Cycle: "Great scenery" (Veliki krajolik). 1970s
- "Testament for Epetion" (Zavjet za Epetion) 1984
- Cycle: "Eyes of Fear" (1981–1984)
- Cycle: "Fires" (Požari ) 1985-1990 includes works such as "vineyard" (Vinograd ), "Cypresses" Čempresi (1986.), "Landscape with three suns" Krajolik s tri sunca (1989.), "Mediterranean Garden" Mediteranski vrt (1990).
- Cycle: "Rat" (War) 1990s
Exhibitions
During his lifetime, Murtić held over 150 solo exhibitions and participated in around 300 group exhibitions on all continents. A selection of the more recent and/or major exhibitions are listed here.Solo
- 2010 "From the Murtić Donation" - Museum of Contemporary Art, ZagrebMuseum of Contemporary Art, ZagrebThe Museum of Contemporary Art is a contemporary art museum located on Dubrovnik Avenue in Zagreb, Croatia. It is the biggest and most modern museum in the country....
- 2010 "War" - Art Pavilion in Zagreb
- 2009 Art pavilion Juraj Matija Sporer, Opatija
- 2005 Art Pavilion in Zagreb
- 2004 Kroatische Malerei des 20. Jahrhunderts - Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Vienna
- 2003 Retrospective Exhibition Modern Gallery, ZagrebModern Gallery, ZagrebModern Gallery is a museum in Zagreb, Croatia that holds the most important and comprehensive collection of paintings, sculptures and drawings by 19th and 20th century Croatian artists. The collection numbers around 10,000 works of art, housed since 1934 in the historic Vranyczany Palace in the...
- 2003 Lissone near Milan; Palace Harrach in Vienna
- 2002 Edo Murtić: Paintings 2001-2001 and Ceramics 2001 - Glyptotheque - Sculpture Museum, Zagreb; Edo Murtić: Novi Manjež Gallery in Moscow
- 2000 Museo Revoltella, Trieste
- 1998 Museum of Modern Art Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik
- 1998 "Montraker" - Art Pavilion in Zagreb
- 1966 Gallery of Fine Arts, SplitGallery of Fine Arts, SplitThe Gallery of Fine Arts , is an art museum in Split, Croatia containing works from 14th century up to the present day providing an overview of the artistic developments in the local art scene...
(Galerija Umjetnina), Split
Group
- 2009 Da Hartung a Warhol. Presenze internazionali nella collezione Cozzani. Opere dalle raccolte del CAMeC - CAMeC - Centro de Arte Moderna e Contemporanea della Spezia, La Spezia.
- 2008 From the holdings of the museum - Museum of Modern Art Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik
- 2007 Avangardne tendencije u Hrvatskoj - Galerija Klovićevi dvori, Zagreb
- 2007 Sammlung Politeo - Art Center Berlin Friedrichstrasse, Berlin
- 2006 Croatian Collection - Museum of Contemporary Art Skopje, Skopje
- 2004 AVANGUARDIE STORICHE E ASTRAZIONE - Importanti opere su carta del XX secolo - Galleria Torbandena, Trieste
- 2003 New Year Art Fair - Galerija Zona, Zagreb
- 1999 23rd International Biennial of Graphic Arts - Ljubljana Biennial of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana
- 1999 Grands et Jeunes d`Aujourd Hui 1958-1998 - Museum of Modern Art Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik
- 1989 18th International Biennial of Graphic Arts - Ljubljana
- 1958 Venice Bienniale
Public Collections
- Croatia: City of Zagreb
- Croatia: Museum of Modern Art Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik
- Croatia: Gallery of Fine Arts / Galerija likovnih umjetnosti, Osijek, Osijek
- Croatia: MMSU - Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Rijeka, Rijeka
- Croatia: Rovinj Heritage Museum, Rovinj
- Croatia: Galerija Umjetnina Split, Split
- Croatia: Museum of Contemporary Art, Zagreb MSU (Muzej Suvremene Umjetnosti )
- Italy: CAMeC - Centro de Arte Moderna e Contemporanea della Spezia, La Spezia
- Macedonia (F.Y.R.M.): Museum of Contemporary Art Skopje, Skopje
- Serbia: Poklon zbirka Rajka Mamuzića, Novi Sad
- Slovenia: Galerija Murska Sobota, Murska Sobota
- United Kingdom: Tate Gallery, London
- USA: MoMA - Museum of Modern Art, New York City, NY
Further reading
- Monograph: Igor Zidić "Edo Murtić" Modern Gallery 2002
- Murtic: Istra by Zvonko Makovic · 307 pages · Publisher: Skaner studio (2000) · ISBN 9539744814 · ISBN 978-9539744814
- Edo Murtic (Biblioteka Likovne monografije = Edition Monograph) Michael Gibson · 427 pages Publisher: Nacionalna i sveucilisna biblioteka (1989) Language: English ASIN: B0006EVUUY
- Murtic (Edizioni d'arte ; nuova ser. 10) Edo Murtic 81 pages Publisher: Edizioni Concordia 7 (1978) Language: English ASIN: B0006E3OPI
- Plovidbe atelijerom Ede Murtica (Likovna izdanja) (Croatian Edition) Cedo Prica 175 pages Publisher: Naprijed (1997) Language: Croatian ISBN 9531780757 ISBN 978-9531780759
- Murtić [: HIS LIFE AND ART] Vladimir. Maleković · Publisher: Pordenone, Centro Iniziative, 1978. 81 pp., 62 leaves of plates, illus. in color and b/w. In English, Italian and Croatian. ASIN: B000UDXFJU
Videos about Edo Murtic and his work on the World News website (in Croatian, with footage of the artist and his work)