My Moon Painting

My name is Denise and I am a collector mostly of my ex-husband's art. Rade Vilotijevic (1957-2018), born in Zemun, Serbia, was a sculptor and painter. He completed his art studies at the Academy of Fine Arts at the University of Belgrade and contributed to the restoration of historical 14th century frescos at monasteries in Serbia, and decorative frescos in Sochi, Georgia. Thereafter, he traveled throughout Europe to study original classical artworks and architecture. In 1990, he moved to New York City, where he began sculpting and painting in his Manhattan studio. Impressed by his work and knowledge in the area of modern abstract stone sculptures, world renowned sculptor Minoru Niizuma engaged him as an apprentice, and so a friendship was forged between the two sculptors. Rade became a member of the Stone Sculpture Society of New York and exhibited with Niizuma in galleries in Soho in Manhattan, and Blue Hill Plaza in Rockland County, New York. Rapidly outgrowing his studio space in Manhattan, Rade moved to Rockland County and established his company, RaDe Fine Art Studios, LLC. He exhibited at numerous local galleries and at Gremillion Fine Arts, Inc. in Houston, Texas. Rade worked in stone--from granite to marble to sandstone--depending on the idea of the forms he was creating. Other media include wood, crystal glass, and bronze. Sculptures are mostly abstract, modern works. Some are geometric, some organic. Vilotijevic's abstract sculptures continue the line of expression that started with Constantin Brancusi to Isamu Noguchi to Minoru Niizuma. Of his own works, Rade states, "In my abstract sculptures the geometric and organic coexist. I am inspired by the beauty and endurance of stone. My sculptures are a conversation with the stone. Each sculpture is a sentence." Also well-versed in painting, Rade's works are surrealistic. They are generally large paintings, mostly in oil on canvas.