Petar Omčikus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Petar Omčikus
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| Born | 6 October 1926 Sušak, Kingdom of Yugoslavia
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| Died | 26 April 2019 (aged 92) |
| Nationality | Serbian |
| Known for | Painter |
Petar Omčikus (born October 6, 1926, in Sušak – died April 26, 2019) was a famous Serbian painter. He was also a member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts. Petar Omčikus spent much of his life living and working in Paris, France.
Petar Omčikus's Life Story
Petar Omčikus moved to Belgrade in 1937. After World War II, he started studying painting. He went to the Academy of Fine Arts. His teacher was a professor named Ivan Tabaković.
Petar and his wife, who was also a painter named Kossa Bokchan, decided to leave their studies. They traveled to Zadar. There, they helped start a group called the Zadar Group. Other artists like Mića Popović and Vera Božičković were also part of this group.
After six months in Zadar, Petar returned to Belgrade. He then joined another group called the Group of Eleven. His very first art show was held in 1951. Soon after, in 1952, Petar Omčikus and Kossa Bokshan moved away from Yugoslavia. They settled down in Paris for good.
From 1965 onwards, they often spent time in Vela Luka. This town is on the island of Korčula. They held many international meetings there. Artists, thinkers, and critics from all over the world attended. Petar Omčikus also showed his art in many group exhibitions. These shows took place both in his home country and abroad.
How He Painted
Petar Omčikus's early art journey began with several artists. They were all from Ivan Tabaković's class. In 1947, they spent a few months together in Zadar. They formed the first art community in Yugoslavia. This was the Zadar Group.
The group included Omčikus, Kossa Bokchan, Mića Popović, and others. This time helped them break away from traditional art school rules. It opened up new ways for them to create freely. This freedom stayed with him throughout his whole career.
In 1951, Omčikus joined The Group of Eleven. This group encouraged him to keep exploring his own art style. At first, his art showed real things in a dream-like way. This was after a time when art had to be very realistic.
The biggest change in his art happened in Paris. There, he discovered abstract art. This type of art uses shapes, colors, and lines instead of showing real objects. Meeting abstract art helped Omčikus find his own unique style. He wasn't trying to copy reality anymore.
His art from the 1960s used geometric shapes. These shapes made you think of different things. But by the 1970s, his style changed. It became colorful and used bold brushstrokes. This new style still showed real things. Later in his career, Omčikus focused on painting portraits. He also drew scenes of Belgrade. He created fantastic, imaginative art and made sculptures too.
Where His Art Was Shown
Petar Omčikus had many art shows. Here are some of his solo exhibitions around the world:
- 1951 Art Gallery ULUS, Belgrade
- 1955 Galerie Arnaud, Paris
- 1958 Galerie Jeanne Bucher, Paris
- 1962 Galerie Formes Contemporaines, Lille
- 1965 Salon of Moderne Gallery, Belgrade
- 1972 Grand Palais, Paris
- 1974 Galleria 'IlGrifo', Rome
- 1976 Galerie de Seine, Paris
- 1983 Galerie Plexus, Chexbres (Switzerland)
- 1985 Galerie des Platanes, Genève
- 1988 Galerie Plexus, Chexbres (Switzerland)
- 1989 Museum of contemporary art, retrospective exhibition, Belgrade
- 1992 Maison de l'UNESCO, Paris
- 1994 Bibliothèque Universitaire, Nancy
- 1995 Galerie René Descartes: 'Atelier Dedouvre', Paris
- 1996 Galerie Plexus: 'Atelier Dedouvre', Chexbres (Switzerland)
- 1998 Gallery SANU, Belgrade
