Balkan Art Scene

11/09/2025

Young artist Medina Đukić (24), originally from Mostar and currently based in Ljubljana, has already built an impressive portfolio of works, projects, and international exhibitions. Moving fluidly between media – from comics and graphics, through painting, illustration, and street art, to tattoo...

09/09/2025

About section of Balkan Art Scene is edited to a new form 🌱 It is time to see the people standing behind it - some for a month, others for a year, couple for half a decade - some are from Balkans, others Europe-wide or America-based living or educated. For all, I am thankful and happy to know they were writing, proofreading, translating, posting, sharing and caring 🧡

⚡️News portal aiming to inform on cultural happenings on Balkan Peninsula

Balkan Art Scene is not occupying space, but providing space to creatives. A platform to write about artists and art happenings, a regional scene which supports all of the hard working ethics and ideals which are always talked about and aimed towards. Balkan Art Scene is targeting the underground Balkan scene, the underdogs, but not drawing away from established cultural and artistic events. Focus is for global English speaking audience to be informed about the content of the Balkan's art scene.

Journalists who helped the platform are
Ana Klikovac, Ifeta Lihic, Arman Fatic, Hana Mujkic, Catherine Peppers

Proofreaders for Balkan Art Scene digital publication are Stacey Dai, Padraic Conces, Guy Priel, Luis Burgos, Sonya Garza Barry, Shari Wright, Asja Milisav-Buturović, Emina Rekanović.

Designer Amina Zaimović for an annual success story.

Looking forward to see more of us here,
Hana Tiro
Founder & Editor-in-Chief

Read the full page at
👉https://www.balkanartscene.com/contact-details

30/08/2025

In Čov(j)eče, ne ljuti se!, Lana Mesić explores reconciliation, memory, and collective action through an unexpected medium: 18,245 hand-painted game pawns. What began as a search for forgiveness in post-genocide Rwanda evolved into a deeply personal and political meditation on the unresolved tensions of the former Yugoslavia. Through play, ritual, and participation, the work invites viewers to imagine new forms of unity, rooted not in nostalgia, but in shared creation.

In Čov(j)eče, ne ljuti se!, Lana Mesić explores reconciliation, memory, and collective action through an unexpected medium: 18,245 hand-painted game pawns. What began as a search for forgiveness in post-genocide Rwanda evolved into a deeply personal and political meditation on the unresolved tens...

15/08/2025

From the gallery walls of Pančevo’s Jovan Popović Gallery, which she directs, to the quiet solitude of her poetic voice, Nikolić navigates themes of loss, resistance, and transformation with fierce honesty. In this conversation, she shares the personal and political undercurrents behind her writing, the role of visual art in her literary practice, and why embracing stillness, like sunflowers at dusk, can be a radical act.

From the gallery walls of Pančevo’s Jovan Popović Gallery, which she directs, to the quiet solitude of her poetic voice, Nikolić navigates themes of loss, resistance, and transformation with fierce honesty. In this conversation, she shares the personal and political undercurrents behind her wri...

29/07/2025

Ambroz Oroši – "Rhythm of Pulsating Energy"

📅 Friday, August 1, 2025
🕘 9:00 PM
📍 City Gallery Crikvenica, Strossmayer Promenade 21

The exhibition will be opened by art historian Mr. sc. Jasna Rodin, highlighting:
"When observing the work of Ambroz Oroši, one is continuously struck by his bold gestural brushwork, a strongly defined graphic structure, and a contrasting use of intense colors. This latest cycle follows that same path and reaffirms all the qualities for which his artistic expression is known.
The painter embarks on his creative journey unburdened by the outcome of each individual piece — what matters more to him is the process, or simply painting as a way of life and a way of thinking. Of course, essential to it all is the undeniable quality of his work, infused with knowledge gained through years of intense artistic practice."

When observing the work of Ambroz Oroši, one is continuously struck by his bold gestural brushwork, a powerfully structured drawing line, and a contrasting use of intense colors. This latest cycle follows that same direction and reaffirms all the qualities for which his artistic output is known. Th...

22/07/2025

Alen Šimić is a theatre and film director whose work navigates themes of existentialism, pain, and human psychology. With a distinctive approach that blends intuition, music, and imagery, Šimić challenges audience to engage with questions rather than provide easy answers. Known for his sharp comedic touch as well as his dedication to authentic storytelling, he offers a candid reflection on creativity, society, and the evolving landscape of contemporary art.
Read the full 30-question interview 👇

Alen Šimić is a theatre and film director whose work navigates themes of existentialism, pain, and human psychology. With a distinctive approach that blends intuition, music, and imagery, Šimić challenges audience to engage with questions rather than provide easy answers. Known for his sharp com...

21/07/2025

Mustafa Özel was born in Turkey in 1961. He graduated in Fine Arts from the University of Marmara in 1984. A year after graduation Mustafa exhibited in his first solo show at Dort Boyut Art Gallery in Istanbul. This was followed by numerous exhibitions in and around Turkey. His latest exhibition was held in Florence, Italy at OnArt Gallery in 2019. Mustafa's portraits have been selected twice to exhibit at the BP Portrait Awards in London. See more of Mustafa's artwork below.

14/07/2025

Irena Kovač is a visual artist whose practice centers around collage, exploring themes of memory, time, and transformation through layered photographic and painterly compositions. With a background in both digital and analog techniques, her work merges fragments of personal and collective history into non-linear, emotionally resonant visual narratives. Deeply intuitive in process, Kovač draws inspiration from music, literature, and cinema, often blurring the lines between documentation and dreamlike introspection. Her art invites viewers to reflect on the invisible threads between past and present, beauty and discomfort, identity and change.

Photographer: Filip BajiloIrena Kovač is a visual artist whose practice centers around collage, exploring themes of memory, time, and transformation through layered photographic and painterly compositions. With a background in both digital and analog techniques, her work merges fragments of persona...

08/07/2025

Kenan Mujagić is a sculptor whose work captures the images of war and memory through expressive forms. Originally drawn to painting, he found his voice in sculpture during his academic years, eventually embracing the medium's physicality and unpredictability. His pieces, often skeletal and wounded, evoke anonymous histories and personal reflections. Working primarily with clay and plaster, Mujagić explores themes of death, faith, and forgotten lives. In this interview, he speaks about his creative process, material struggles, and the silent weight carried by each sculpture.

Photographer: Minjun KimKenan Mujagić is a sculptor whose work captures the images of war and memory through expressive forms. Originally drawn to painting, he found his voice in sculpture during his academic years, eventually embracing the medium's physicality and unpredictability. His pieces, oft...

08/07/2025

BBA One Shot Award AUG. 2025

Your story. Your medium.

🎯Whether you’re an experienced photographer or a casual snap-shooter, the One Shot Award invites you to submit an image that tells your story - no matter your skill level, theme, or technique.

🚀What do you receive?
20 Shortlisted will be exhibited at BBA
30 Longlisted will be on a Digital Display at BBA
Print produced by BBA Gallery for exhibition
Weekly online features on social media

📸What are the requirements?
1 Image (.jpg or .png, max 3MB), but multiple entries are allowed
Any medium: lens-based, smartphone, analogue, digital, AI, film
Entry fee: 18€

🏆General Prizes:
300€ CASH for 1st Winner + Artsy profile
Group Exhibition at BBA Gallery (28th - 31st of August)
Online Promotions (Newsletter, BBA Website)

🔗Apply now: https://bba-prizes.com/one-shot-award

⏰Deadline: 4th of August 2025 (midnight CET)

Founded in 2017, BBA Gallery is Berlin’s breakthrough artist-led contemporary art gallery. BBA Gallery is recognised for its innovative and unique approach to the contemporary art dealership market.

27/06/2025

Eforie Colorat
From July 1 to August 24, 2025, the seaside town of Eforie Sud becomes a vibrant cultural hub as Eforie Colorat opens its fifth edition with a season of contemporary arts. Hosted in the Cinemascop Garden, the festival will feature over 200 events—from art exhibitions and book launches to experimental music, film screenings, live performances, and children's workshops. With programming extending until April 30, 2026, the project continues beyond the summer season, aiming to engage the local community and support regional growth through art and culture.

From July 1 to August 24, 2025, the seaside town of Eforie Sud becomes a vibrant cultural hub as Eforie Colorat opens its fifth edition with a season of contemporary arts. Hosted in the Cinemascop Garden, the festival will feature over 200 events—from art exhibitions and book launches to experimen...

26/06/2025

HDLU Rijeka Welcomes New Members with Annual Exhibition

Every year, the Croatian Association of Visual Artists (HDLU) Rijeka welcomes new artists into its membership, continually strengthening and enriching both the local and national visual arts scene. In 2025, the selection committee was composed of members of the Artistic Council – Želimir Hladnik, Luisa Ritoša, and Melita Sorola Staničić – along with art historians Branka Arh and Dijana Zrilić, who were specially appointed for this purpose. Their selections and recommendations were officially confirmed at the following General Assembly of HDLU Rijeka.

The traditional exhibition that introduces the newly accepted members features the very works submitted during the application process. This year, the selected artists come from diverse backgrounds and art academies – including Rijeka, Zagreb, Ljubljana, and Kharkiv (Ukraine). Many of them have already exhibited their work and received recognition within the professional art community.

This exhibition not only highlights emerging artistic voices but also reflects the vibrant diversity and international dialogue within the contemporary visual arts landscape.

Artists 🎨 Daniela Battisti, Ivan Car, Marina Kastarnova, Lana Polić, Mateja Rusak, Iva Starac, Senka Šerbeđija, Franko Tončinić