SAFET ZEC

Bosnian, born 1943

BIOGRAPHY
Before the attrition of Yugoslavia, Zec was a well-known painter in his native land. His fame was consistently spreading abroad as he gained exposure in galleries all over Europe, North and South America, and Japan. Zec was born to the son of a poor Muslim cobbler as the last of eight children. Due to the devastating war, Zec’s family moved from the Gorazade and Rogatica region, to Sarajevo where the family settled. It was there that Zec spent his childhood.

At a young age Zec aspired to be an artist. He swiftly mastered artistic skills in his youth and was considered a prodigy by the time he reached Belgrade Academy of Fine Arts. Zec continued for some years in Belgrade and eventually bought and restored a house in Pocitelj where he created a studio. In 1991, his peaceful life was disrupted by the onset of the war in Pocitelj. His studio and much of his print work were burned out, representing the destruction of years of work. In 1992, unable to paint and support his family as the bombardment of Sarajevo intensified, Zec found a studio space in Udine, northeast of Venice. During this period of exile, Zec’s painting flourished and since then he has moved to Venice where he continues his work with unceasing tenacity. He plans for a large scale retrospective exhibition of pictures from before, during, and after the war to be held next year in Sarajevo, and then to tour several cities in France, starting in Lille. Zec intends to return at some point to Sarajevo. Zec’s intrigue with windows is apparent in the abundance of his paintings which feature them. He stated: “The house where I grew up in Sarajevo was opposite a big house with a large facade and many windows. I’ve been fascinated by them ever since. Painting windows is like painting a portrait for me. They are like people, they change their aspect as the day and night passes. They’re ever present in our lives.”

Museum Collections:
Museo Correr, Venice
Spencer Museum of Art, Lawrence, KS

Mark Murray Fine Paintings is a New York gallery specializing in buying and selling 19th century and early 20th century artwork. 

Please contact us if you are interested in selling your Safet Zec paintings or other artwork from the 19th century and early 20th century. 

SAFET ZEC
Paintings for sale