Janez Bernik facts for kids

Janez Bernik (born September 6, 1933 – died July 15, 2016) was a famous Slovenian artist. He won many awards and was known around the world for his amazing paintings and other artworks.

Quick facts for kids Janez Bernik
Bernik in 1969
Born	6 September 1933 Gunclje, Slovenia
Died	15 July 2016 Prebold, Slovenia
Known for	Graphic art, sculpture, set design, and poetry

Early Life and Education

Janez Bernik was born in a village called Gunclje. This village is now part of the big city of Ljubljana in Slovenia.

He went to the Crafts School in Ljubljana first. After that, from 1951 to 1955, he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Ljubljana. There, he learned from a teacher named Maksim Sedej.

Bernik loved learning and continued his studies from 1956 to 1958. He focused on graphic design with professors Božidar Jakac and Riko Debenjak. He also traveled to countries like Italy and France to learn more about art.

A Life in Art

From 1958 to 1969, Janez Bernik worked as an artist on his own. He created many artworks during this time.

In 1970, he started teaching at the Academy of Fine Arts in Ljubljana. He became a professor of drawing and painting. Later, from 1979 until he retired in 1996, he was a full professor. He even led the Painting Department at the Academy.

Bernik was part of an art group called Group 69. He showed his art at all their exhibitions. He also became a member of important groups like the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts. He was even a member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts.

What Kind of Art Did He Make?

Janez Bernik was a very talented artist who worked in many different ways. He was great at:

• Painting
• Sculpture (making statues)
• Graphic design (creating prints and designs)
• Illustration (making pictures for books)
• Tapestry (woven art)
• Book design
• Poetry (writing poems)

His graphic prints are kept in famous art galleries and collections all over the world. He had more than 60 of his own art shows. These shows were in many cities, including Milan, Rome, Paris, Berlin, and New York.

Bernik also showed his art at the Venice Biennale several times. This is a very important art exhibition. He published four collections of his graphic prints. His poems were also published in two books.

Awards and Recognition

Janez Bernik received many important awards for his art. Some of the main awards he won in Slovenia include:

• The Prešeren Fund Award for painting and graphic design (in 1963)
• The Jakopič Award for painting (in 1971)
• The Prešeren Award (in 1981), which is one of the highest awards for artists in Slovenia

He also won many international awards and gold medals for his paintings and graphic designs.

His artworks are kept in galleries and museums in Slovenia. You can also find his art in many big cities across Europe, like London, Vienna, and Paris. His works are even in North and South America, in cities like New York and Buenos Aires, and in Japan, in Tokyo.

Janez Bernik passed away in Prebold on July 15, 2016.