Irena Podvorac

Irena Podvorac was born in Zagreb in 1977. She graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb in 2000 with a sculpture major, having been taught by M. Ujević, K. Bošnjak, S. Drinković M. Blažević, and D. Mataušić. In 1999 she spent a term at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania (taught by J. Nestor, L. LaRosh, D. Hedman). Since 1998 she has taken part in many individual and group exhibitions in the country and abroad and has created several sculptures that are displayed in public spaces. She has won several prizes and awards for her work. In 2006 a TV-exhibition named 'Skica za portret' was filmed about her work featuring cats for National TV. She is a member of the Croatian art associations HDLU and HZSU. Irena Podvorac was president of the Fine Artists Association of Samobor (ULUS) 2007 -2016. She is a freelance artist who lives and works in Samobor.

EDUCATION:
1996 - 2000 Academy of Fine Arts, University of Zagreb
1992 - 1996 School of Applied Art and Design, Zagreb

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND SCHOLARSHIPS:
2013 Potter workshop, Jadranko Gjerek, Samobor
2007 Silversmithing workshop, Lumezi Open Studio, Zagreb
2001-2002 Pedagogical and psychological training, Teachers Academy, Zagreb
1999 Fellowship at Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Department of Art, Indiana, USA
1997 - 2000 State Scholarship from the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports, CRO

AWARDS:
2019. 3rd award „51st May exhibition“ regional program, Beograd, Serbia
2005. Second Purchase Prize of the 40th Lika Art Annale, Gospić
2005. The purchase price, Great Art Workshop, Kastav – in the sculpture, design and applied art category
2002. Honorary mention of the International Post-Modern Ceramics Festival, Varaždin
2000. Academy of Fine Arts Prize for the best sculpture graduate, Zagreb


SCULPTURES IN PUBLIC PLACES:
2015. CAT ON MILLSTONE, 130 x 86 x 250 cm, Samobor
2010. GOLFER, 120 x 80 x 220 cm, Samobor
2007. FISHERMAN, 66x89x157cm, Olib
2006. OLI THE CAT, 66 x 120 x 95 cm, Olib
2003. SUDNIK'S BENCH, 110x60x200cm, Samobor
2003. CAT, 80x67x224Cm, Pušća
2002. BISON, 350x200x150cm, Zaprešić
2001. FLIRT 130x44x40cm, Stara gora near Ptuj, SLO
2000. BIRDS, 290x320x130cm, Zagreb

INDIVIDUAL EXHIBITIONS:
2018. OBSESSION, WAKING UP FROM HIBERNATION, Gallery Prica, PUO Samobor
2017. BULL- COMEBACK TO SCULPTURE, Gallery „Matice hrvatske ogranak in Zaprešić“
2017. «IRENA'S CATS», City Gallery Crikvenica
2009. «DOGS AND CATS», Turnac City Gallery, Novi Vinadolski
2009. «MY DOG », Idealni grad Gallery, CZKIO, Zagreb
2007. «ALL A CAT'S LIVES», Museum Mimara, Zagreb
2007. «FROM POINT TO POINT», Prica Gallery, PUO Samobor (together with Irenom Škrinjar)
2005. «CAT THEATER – 2ND SCENE», Vincent Gallery, Kastav
2005. « CAT THEATER », Vladimir Bužančić Gallery, Zagreb
2005. «BIRDS», Razvid Gallery, Zaprešić
2004. «RAKU CATS», Samobor Museum, Samobor
2003. «CATS», Samobor Museum, Samobor
2002. « CATS », Vjekoslav Karas Gallery, Karlovac
2002. « CATS», St. Krševan Gallery, Šibenik
2002. « CATS», City Gallery Krapina, Krapina
2000. «BISONS», VN Gallery, Zagreb

GROUP EXHIBITIONS (selection):
2020. «WOMEN», Zabok City Gallery, Zabok
2020. «10th ZAPREŠIĆ BIENNALE AQUARELLE», Razvid Gallery, PUOZ, Zaprešić
2020. «THEY ARE HERE (ONE SU TU)», Gallery of Fine Arts Salvko Kopač, Vinkovci
2019. «CAT IN CROATIAN FINE ARTS“, Gallery Prica, PUO Samobor
2019. «SEEING WITH TOUCH» Gallery Vjekoslav Karas, Karlovac
2019. «2nd SAMOBOR SALON - GRANICE» Gallery Prica, PUO Samobor
2019. «51st MAY EXHIBITION», Beograd, Serbia
2019. «8th TRIENNIAL EXHIBITION OF THE CROATIAN AQUARELLE », Slavonski brod, Karlovac and Zagreb
2018. «SAMOBOR SALON» Gallery Bunker, PUOS, Samobor
2018. «21. MINIATURE», Zaprešićki Novi dvori, Zaprešić
2018. «8th. ART SALON OF ZAGORJE», City Gallery of Krapina, Krapina
2018. «FIDEM XXXV ART MEDAL WORLD CONGRESS» Ottawa, Canada
2018. «VII. TRIENNALE PASSIONIC HERITAGE », Zvonimir Gallery MORH, Zagreb
2016. « EXHIBITION OF CONTEMPORARY CROATIAN MEDAL », Studio Josip Račić, Modern Gallery, Zagreb
2016. «12th MEMORIAL OF IVO KERDIC - Triennial Exhibition of Croatian Medal "Fine Arts Gallery, Fine Arts Gallery, Osijek
2013. «11th MEMORIAL OF IVO KERDIC - Triennial Exhibition of Croatian Medal "Fine Arts Gallery, Fine Arts Gallery, Osijek
2010. «SCULPTURE INTENDED FOR CHILDREN PLACES», Likum, Ulrich Gallery, Zagreb
2010. «10th MEMORIAL OF IVO KERDIC - Triennial Exhibition of Croatian Medal "Fine Arts Gallery, Fine Arts Gallery, Osijek
2009. «TOP 100- CONTEMPORARY CERAMIC», Zvonimir Gallery MORH, Zagreb
2009. «5TH. ART SALON OF ZAGORJE», City Gallery OF Krapina, Krapina
2009. «SCULPTURE IN CERAMIC», Vladimir Filakovac Gallery, Zagreb
2008. «1. TRIENNIAL EXHIBITION OF THE CROATIAN SELFPOTRAITS », Prica Gallery, Samobor
2007. «FIDEM XXX ART MEDAL WORLD CONGRESS», Colorado Springs, USA
2007. «9th MEMORIAL OF IVO KERDIC - Triennial Exhibition of Croatian Medal "Fine Arts Gallery,
2006. 4th.ART SALON OF ZAGORJE, City Gallery of Krapine
2005. «XL: ANNUAL LIKA'S ART», Museum of Lika, Gospić
2004. «8th MEMORIAL OF IVO KERDIC - Triennial Exhibition of Croatian Medal "Fine Arts Gallery, Fine Arts Gallery, Osijek
2004. «FIDEM XXIX ART MEDAL WORLD CONGRESS», Seixal, Portugal
2004. 3RD TRIENNIAL EXHIBITION OF THE CROATIAN AQUARELLE, Gallery Of Vjekoslav Karas, Karlovac
2003. 3rd.ART SALON OF ZAGORJE, City Gallery of Krapine
2002. "INTERNATIONAL POSTMODERN CERAMICS FESTIVAL" old town, Varaždin, Croatia
2001. "32ND SALON OF SPLIT" Arts gallery, Split
2001. «7th MEMORIAL OF IVO KERDIC - Triennial Exhibition of Croatian Medal "Fine Arts Gallery, Fine Arts Gallery, Osijek
2000. 7TH TRIENNIAL EXHIBITION OF THE CROATIAN SCULPTURE" Gliptoteka, Zagreb,
1998. 6th MEMORIAL OF IVO KERDIC - Triennial Exhibition of Croatian Medal "Fine Arts Gallery, Fine Arts Gallery, Osijek