Kristina Koljaka facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kristina Koljaka
Self drawing
Born	(1915-06-06)6 June 1915 Kavajë, Albania
Died	21 October 2005(2005-10-21) (aged 90) Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Nationality	Albanian
Education	Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma
Known for	Sculpture, Ceramics
Notable work	Statue of Lenin (1954)
Awards	Merited Sculptor
Signature

Kristina Koljaka (Hoshi) (born June 6, 1915 – died October 21, 2005) was an important Albanian sculptor. She was one of the first women in Albania to become a successful artist in sculpture.

Early Life and Art Journey

Kristina Koljaka was born on June 6, 1915, in the city of Kavajë, in western Albania. Her father, Jani Koljaka, was a very smart person who knew 12 different languages. Her mother was Angja Petro Bidoshi. Kristina was the second oldest of their seven children.

From a young age, Kristina loved art. Her parents saw her passion and helped her get professional art training. She traveled to nearby Italy to study art.

Education and Artistic Career

Kristina Koljaka first studied at the Arts Lyceum in Tirana from 1930 to 1934. This was a special high school for art students. A few years later, she went to a famous art school in Rome, Italy. This school was called the Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma. She studied there from 1938 to 1941. She learned from a well-known sculptor named Angelo Zanelli. Other famous Albanian painters like Vangjush Mio and Zef Kolombi had also studied there before her.

After her studies, Koljaka became a teacher herself. She taught at the Jordan Misja Artistic Lyceum. Her colleagues there included other famous artists like Odhise Paskali and Sadik Kaceli. Later, she also taught at the Higher Institute of Arts in Tirana. This institute opened in 1960.

Kristina Koljaka showed her first important work, "My Friend," in 1941. It was a sculpture made of marble. She became very famous for her large statue of Vladimir Lenin. This bronze statue was 4 meters tall and was created in 1954 in Tirana.

She made sculptures about many different topics. For example, "Seedlings (Afforestation)" from 1951 showed people planting trees. She also created many portraits, like the life-size "Dr Shiroka" (made of marble) in 1956. Her sculptures are known for their gentle shapes and clear outlines. They often show human warmth and a good understanding of space. The hands and other small details in her portraits were always very carefully made.

Kristina Koljaka is considered one of the best Albanian sculptors and art teachers. She passed away on October 21, 2005, when she was 90 years old.

Important Artworks

Here are some of Kristina Koljaka's well-known sculptures:

• "Shën Gjon Pagëzori i vogël" (1931) - a portrait in plaster.
• "Eros" (1931) - a portrait of a young girl in plaster.
• "Shipion Afrikani" (1933) - a portrait in plaster.
• "Nerina" (1941) - a portrait in clay.
• "Pyllëzimi" (1951) - a bronze sculpture about planting trees.
• "Gjok Doçi" (1953) - a portrait in plaster.
• "Monumenti i Leninit" (1954) - a large bronze monument.
• "Dita e parë e shkollës" (1955) - a relief in plaster about the first day of school.
• "Fëmijët dhe Pëllumbi" (1955) - a sculpture of children and a dove.
• "Doktor Shiroka" (1956) - a marble portrait.
• "Ali Kelmendi" (1956) - a bronze portrait.
• "Djali me delfin" (1957) - a sculpture of a boy with a dolphin.
• "Kolektivizimi" (1958) - a relief in plaster.
• "Ndoc Dedë Marku" (1963) - a portrait in plaster.
• "Balerina" (1963) - a sculpture of a ballerina.
• "Soprano Tefta Tashko Koço" (1974) - a portrait in plaster of a famous singer.
• "Justina Shkupi" (1974) - a portrait in plaster.
• "Dora d'Istria" (1978) - a portrait in plaster.
• "Nëna dhe fëmija" (1983) - a sculpture of a mother and child.

Awards and Recognition

Kristina Koljaka received special honors for her contributions to art.

• On April 21, 2000, the city of Tirana gave her the title "Gratitude of the City of Tirana."
• The next year, on January 19, 2001, the city of Kavajë made her an "Honorary Citizen." They called her "an honorable daughter of the city of Kavajë, the first Albanian female sculptor."

Seven of Koljaka's artworks are displayed at the National Museum of Fine Arts in Tirana. These works show her art from 1940 to 1974. This period is an important part of Albanian art history in the twentieth century.

Gallery

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  Sculpture in basorelief composed in bronze displaying two children planting a tree (afforestation).

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  Sculpture relief of agriculture farming.

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  Sculpture of Justina Shkupi, volunteer in the Spanish War.

See also

In Spanish: Kristina Koljaka para niños