Forgotten artist of Croatian painting: an exhibition opened in honor of Vladimir Udatny in Rijeka

The Rijeka City Museum opened a retrospective exhibition dedicated Vladimir Udatnyone of the most important Rijeka painters of the 20th century, whose artistic oeuvre has long been neglected at the national level.

RIJEKA: The opening of the retrospective exhibition of Rijeka painter Vladimir Udatny at the Museum of the City of Rijeka |

Photo: Nel Pavletic/Pixsell

The exhibition entitled ‘Geometry in the Figurative’ lasts until May 31 in the Kockica exhibition space, and is accompanied by an extensive monographic edition, which further valorizes its contribution to Croatian art.

This retrospective comes as many as 46 years after the last major exhibition of Vladimir Udatny, held in 1978 in Zagreb, Rijeka and Osijek. Although it has been almost half a century since then, Ugatny’s work remained unjustly marginalized despite his significant contribution to the art scene. The Museum of the City of Rijeka recognized the importance of this artist and decided to re -introduce his oeuvre to the public, including works that were not available so far.

Photo: Goran Vranic

Vladimir Udatny was born in Voćin in 1920 and graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb in 1951 in the class of Marina Tartaglie. In the same year, he moved to Rijeka, where he remained to live and create until his death. His work is characterized by daring geometricization of landscapes and city bustle and striking cycles of harlekin and abstraction. In addition to painting, he dealt with graphic techniques, set design, decorations and design of advertising posters.

RIJEKA: The opening of the retrospective exhibition of Rijeka painter Vladimir Udatny at the Museum of the City of Rijeka |

Photo: Nel Pavletic/Pixsell

The exhibition includes more than a hundred works – oils on canvas, drawings, monotypes and two sculptures – coming from the holdings of the Museum of the City of Rijeka and numerous other institutions such as the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rijeka, the National Museum of Modern Art in Zagreb and the Museum of Fine Arts in Osijek. A significant contribution was also made by the family of Udatny, who gave pictures from a private collection and an unpublished records and criticism.

RIJEKA: The opening of the retrospective exhibition of Rijeka painter Vladimir Udatny at the Museum of the City of Rijeka |

Photo: Nel Pavletic/Pixsell

Obatny’s departure from Zagreb in 1951, caused by an unfavorable cultural and political climate, led to his distance from the national art scene. However, in Rijeka he became one of the key names of local art in the mid -20th century. His works testify to a strong connection with the Rijeka environment, but also to the universal aspirations of modernism.

In addition to serious art successes, Udatny was involved in painting public spaces to ensure financial stability. Among such works is a fresco in the lobby of the Fenice Theater in Rijeka.

RIJEKA: The opening of the retrospective exhibition of Rijeka painter Vladimir Udatny at the Museum of the City of Rijeka |

Photo: Nel Pavletic/Pixsell

The author of the exhibition Ema Makarun She emphasized that this retrospective aims not only the presentation of Ugatny’s works, but also the modern valorisation of his legacy within the historical context of the 1960s and 1970s.

This seeks to change the perception of the profession according to the importance of this painter for the Croatian art history.