SULUV

The Association of Fine Artists of Vojvodina / SULUV

Bulevar Mihajla Pupina 9, Novi Sad
+381 (0) 21 524 991

The Union of Associations of Fine Artists of Vojvodina (SULUV) was originally established as the Association of Fine Artists of Vojvodina (ULUV) in 1946. It is one of the oldest associations of fine artists in Serbia and the former Yugoslavia. It used to be a branch within the Association of Fine Artists of Serbia from 1958 to 1977, when it separated. Since 1985, it has been operating as SULUV. In 2011, it obtained the status of a representative association of fine artists. Currently, it has 563 members. The SULUV gallery on Mihajla Pupina Boulevard was opened in1969. That year, it hosted numerous exhibitions, fine arts events, and manifestations.

Since its foundation, the SULUV members have included over a thousand renowned fine artists from Vojvodina across the generational and national divides, whose arts feature a stylistic and poetic diversity. Over many decades, SULUV has been promoting and supporting the works of its members by organizing exhibitions and publishing the accompanying catalogs. For 75 years, SULUV has promoted and executed a great number of significant events – solo and group shows of the members and visiting artists, exhibitions of the members in the region and worldwide, promotions, seminars, congresses, lectures, and public talks. SULUV has brought together all the relevant active fine artists in AP Vojvodina. It has been contributing its activities and programs to the creation and recording of the moments in the history of fine arts in Vojvodina and Novi Sad.

In accordance with its defined strategy in the field of fine and visual arts, SULUV is nowadays carrying out tasks assigned to it. Through its remarkable work, it is encouraging the emerging artistic production and works of young artists. It is also facilitating the promotion and education of artists and the audience, recognition, exchange, and collaboration. It is devising new concepts advancing the cultural environment in this area. SULUV has constantly been engaged in the revitalization of its own work through professional interconnectivity with other associations in the region and in the world. It has been persistently reactivating communication in the sphere of contemporary cultural production. Yearly, SULUV traditionally organizes, produces, and realizes approximately forty events recently channeled through the following programs: The SULUV Member Exhibition Program, The Collaboration and Partner Realization Program, The Review Program, The Education and Research Program, The Exchange Program, The Publishing Program, and The New Art Practice Program. All the programs are dedicated to the current artistic creation and content facilitated by SULUV in collaboration with other institutions and associations in the realm of culture and fine arts.

 SULUV timeline 

From the association’s history

1946
The Associations of Fine Artists of Vojvodina, one of the oldest fine artists’ associations in Serbia and Yugoslavia, established.

1948
The Exhibition of Vojvodinian Contemporary Artists held at the Gallery of Matica Srpska.

1949
The III Exhibition of Vojvodinian Contemporary Artists held at the Gallery of Matica Srpska, featuring Jožef Ač, Radmila Graovac-Ris, Mirko Daljev, Mihajlo Dejanović, Aleksandar Ivanjoš, Ksenija Ilijević, Sava Ipić, Ivan Jakobčić, Stevan Jenovac, Milan Kečić, Evgenije Knežević, Milan Konjović, Stevan Maksimović, Šandor Nađ, Milivoj Nikolajević, Šandor Olah, Živka Pajić, Boško Petrović, Pavle Ružička, Đorđe Tabaković, Đurđe Teodorović, and Stojan Trumić.

1951
The Milan Konjović solo show at the Art Pavilion Cvijeta Zuzorić in Belgrade.
The V Exhibition of the Association of Fine Artists of Vojvodina featuring fine and applied arts pieces held at the Gallery of Matica Srpska.
The Gallery of The Association of Fine Artists of Vojvodina hosting the members’ solo shows.
1956
The Cultural Center of Novi Sad, Youth Tribune in Novi Sad, opened in 1954, officially named in September 1956.
The Ečka Art Colony near Zrenjanin established.

1957
The Vojvodina division formed within The Associations of Fine Artists of Serbia. The management included president Radmila Graovac, assistant Bogomil Karlavaris, and treasurer Milan Kerac.
The Art Council members included Ankica Oprešnik, Milan Kečić, Jovan Soldatović, Milan Konjović, and Milivoj Nikolajević. Issues raised: exhibition halls; policies; education and development; artists’ social status; collaboration with other associations; artist studios.
The Vojvodinian Fine Artists exhibition held at the headquarters of the DTD Canal. It toured multiple cities in Vojvodina.

1958
At the Division Plenum, three essential recommendations were presented regarding purchasing the works of art, synthesis of fine arts and architecture, and grant competitions to fund the erection of monuments.
The establishment and duties of the Vojvodina Division, to be located at 21 Zmaj Jovina St., were approved.
A comprehensive ULUS, Vojvodina Division Exhibition held at the Gallery of Matica Srpska featuring all the association’s members (33).

1960
The Contemporary Fine Arts in Vojvodina exhibition held at various centers in the republics of the former Yugoslavia, followed by the reciprocated effort in Novi Sad.
The ULUS, Vojvodina Division exhibition held at the Museum in Vršac and in Priština.
For the first time, the Division hosted an exhibition of an international artist-- Argentinean painter Robert Kapur.
Likovna jesen, a contemporary Yugoslav art institution, established in Sombor.

1961
A specialized institution The Pavle Beljanski Memorial Collection opened in Novi Sad featuring 173 art pieces.

1962
The municipality of Subotica established the gallery Likovni susret -- Palić (nowadays, The Contemporary Gallery Subotica).
The Division organized I Gathering of Yugoslav Painters in Subotica; published a collection of texts written by prominent art theorists and fine artists.
As a token of support to the artists struggling with the problem of working space, the exhibition of the Division members entitled From the Studios of Novi Sad Artists held at Petrovaradin Fortress.
Initiated collaboration between the Division and institutions on the decoration of public objects and landscaping of urban spaces.

1965
Town representatives elected to enhance the network of the Division’s collaborators: Ivan Jakobčić (Sombor), Gabor Silađi (Subotica), Isidor Vrsajkov (Novi Sad), and Tivadar Vanjek (Zrenjanin).
The Conference in Subotica held on the topic of The Problems of Fine Arts Culture in Vojvodinian Communes featuring fine artists and architects; bulletin published afterward.
A group of Novi Sad 18 leading fine artists sent a Letter of Protest accompanied by a report to the Municipal Assembly of Novi Sad stressing the difficult situation on the city’s fine arts scene.
The Fall ULUS, Vojvodina Division Members Exhibition held in Subotica at the Town Exhibition Hall.

1966
The Gallery of Contemporary Fine Arts founded thanks to the active support of the Association’s fine artists-members.
Cultural relations with the international scenes intensified.
The Mutual Session of the KPZ Fine Arts Committee; ULUS, Vojvodina Division; UPIDIV; and art colonies of Vojvodina.
The Annual Exhibition held at the Gallery of Matica Srpska featuring 26 artists and 6 nonmember artists accompanied by a quality catalog.

1967
VII Congress of the Union of Fine Artists of Yugoslavia held in Novi Sad featuring over one hundred fine artists nationwide.
The accompanying Exhibition of Vojvodinian Fine Artists held.
The annual ULUS, Vojvodina Division exhibition held at the Gallery of Matica Srpska.

1968
The Provincial Secretariat for Education and Culture established the Coordinating Commission for Memorials, including the participation of the Association members.
The Association’s headquarters relocated from the Gallery of Matica Srpska (where it had been located for years) to the new space of the KPZ Vojvodina.
The Association members’ group show The Winter Salon of Likovni susret held in Subotica.

1969
First major Association members group show Contemporary Fine Artists of Vojvodina held at the Gallery of Matica Srpska and the Culture Center in Ruma featuring 350 fine and applied arts pieces by 70 artists, accompanied by a comprehensive monograph including translated professional writings.
The Gallery of Contemporary Fine Arts organized two retrospective exhibitions of the Association members --Tivadar Vanjek and Ankica Oprešnik.
Two Association members’ group shows held in Timisoara and Modena.
The Association signs a lease on the gallery space in Novi Sad (nowadays The SULUV Gallery at 9 Mihajla Pupina Boulevard).
Detailed plans for the reconstruction of the space and the establishment of The Association’s Small Gallery; The Association Gallery logo designed by Laslo Kapitanj.

1970
The Association’s Small Gallery opened, two-week exhibitions held, each featuring 20-25 medium size pieces.
The Association Arts Council managed the gallery (the first president M. Nikolajević).
The municipal office of culture started the construction of 25 studios at Petrovaradin Fortress to be used by fine and applied artists.
The same institution formed the Commission for the Synthesis including the Association members within diverse formats of the collaboration between fine/applied arts and architecture.
The Association provided free housing for many fine artists.
Group show The Fine Artists of Vojvodina held at the Art Pavilion Cvijeta Zuzorić in Belgrade. 

1971
The group show of the members of ULUS and ULUV–ULUS 71 held at the Art Pavilion Cvijeta Zuzorić.
The Association, alongside The City Museum of Novi Sad and GSLU, assumes the role of the organizer of the Novi Sad Salon.

1972
The Contemporary Art of Vojvodina exhibition held at MSU in Belgrade, later relocated to Zagreb, The Modern Gallery JAZU, and Mestna Gallery in Ljubljana. The exhibition was produced by GSLU.
The annual exhibition The Fine Artists of Vojvodina held in Zrenjanin, later relocated to Vršac, Subotica, and Sombor, featuring 50 artists.
The first Novi Sad Salon held at the Gallery of Matica Srpska, conceptualized as an annual display of the current production of the members of the three associations: UPIDIV, the Vojvodina Division; ULUS, the Vojvodina Division; and DaNS.
In 1973. the Salon was relocated to the Gallery of People’s University, where it remained until the early 21 century when it was closed.

1973
At the competition for a free artist studio, 21 artists obtained their working space at the former student dormitory at Topovnjača and in the barracks.
The Contemporary Fine Arts of Vojvodina was presented in Slovakia, at the National Gallery in Bratislava (organized by GSLU).
Presented works of the ULUV, UPIDIV, and DaNS members from different artistic fields created in the period between 1960 and 1973, including 147 works by 58 authors.

1974
The Academy of Arts established (approved by the Assembly of the AP Vojvodina) as part of the University of Novi Sad. From the very beginning, the structure of the Academy included music, fine arts, and dramatic arts education. The founding committee included renowned experts and artists from multiple Yugoslav cultural centers.
Active members of all the sections in Vojvodinian cities and the Division approved the Program and the Statute.
Since then, ULUV has been an independent fine artists’ association within ULUS.
Three exhibitions of the works of young artists held: Young Artists of Novi Sad (Cultural Center of Novi Sad Youth Tribune in Novi Sad), Young Artists of Vojvodina (Belgrade Youth Center), and The Instant of Yugoslav Painting74. Young Generation (The National Museum in Sombor).
The fine arts gallery The Memorial Collection of Rajko Mamuzić opened in Novi Sad featuring art pieces of the postwar generation of artists.

1975
Contemporary Novi Sad Graphics exhibition held at the Gallery of Matica Srpska – 20 graphic artists, ULUV members.
Commemorating the 30th anniversary of the victory over fascism, ULUV facilitated the exhibition Drawing in the Works of Fine Artists of Vojvodina at the Gallery of Matica Srpska featuring 76 artists, and accompanied by a comprehensive monograph.
The ULUV Gallery hosted exhibitions Painters Who Died in the Second World War (P. Sudarski, B. Šuput, B. Vučković, S. Šumanović) and The ULUV Women Members.
ULUV had 91 members and managed 70 artist studios.

1977
The name The Associations of Fine Artists (ULUV) officially registered.
A new Statute accepted in accordance with The Law on Citizens Associations.
The 26th ULUV Spring Exhibition held at the Gallery of Matica Srpska.
Majska grupa consisting of formally trained sculptors including P. Radovanivić, Lj. Denković, M. Marinkov, A. Vasiljević, and R. Gikić exhibited within the Exhibition of Sculpture in Free Space on Moše Pijade Quay.
Similar exhibitions in public places held in the following years. There were 16 formally trained sculptors in the Association.

1978
The Kunstler aus der Vojvodina exhibition held in Germany at the Rosenheim Gallery.
The 27th ULUV Spring Exhibition held at the Gallery of Matica Srpska.

1979
28th ULUV Members Exhibition held at the Gallery of Matica Srpska.
The exhibition Gift to Montenegro held at the ULUV gallery to demonstrate solidarity with the Republic of Montenegro affected by a major earthquake.
The exhibition was held in Montenegro the following year.
Initiated by Professor Bogdanka Poznanović, The Academy of Arts in Novi Sad established The Visual Studio for Intermedia Research pioneering the efforts of that kind in the former Yugoslavia.

1981
The 30th Jubilee ULUV Spring Exhibition held at the Gallery of Matica Srpska during the 36th World Table Tennis Championship.
The Contemporary Arts of Vojvodina exhibition held at the Culture Center in Banja Luka.
The ULUV logo designed by Ferenc Barat.

1982
The International Symposium of Large-Size Terracotta Sculpture opened in Kikinda as a unique event in that domain globally.

1984
The 33rd Spring Exhibition, held at the Gallery of Matica Srpska and the National Museum in Vršac, featuring 111 ULUV member artists.

1985
The Association officially registered as The Union of Associations of Fine Artists of Vojvodina (its current name), a social organization located in Novi Sad. A new Statute approved at the Union meeting on November 9, 1985.
34th ULUV Spring exhibition held in Subotica at the Likovni susret gallery, and later at the Gallery of Matica Srpska in Novi Sad.
The exhibition Yugoslavia. Art in Vojvodina, Selection (Jugoslawien. Die Kunst in der Vojvodina heute, Auswahl) facilitated by the Provincial Institute for International Cooperation, and shown in Germany (Stuttgart, Cologne, and Bonn) and Austria (Vienna).

1986
The Association’s exhibitions held in multiple cities in Vojvodina.
35th SULUV Spring Exhibition held at the Contemporary Gallery in Zrenjanin dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Ečka Art Colony.
The Arts in Vojvodina exhibition held at the HDLU Gallery Karas in Zagreb.

1987
According to official data, SULUV had 199 members, and the Union comprised six associations of fine artists of Vojvodina: ULUV Novi Sad, 125 members; ULUV Subotica, 17 members; ULUV Sombor, 13 members; ULUV Zrenjanin, 18 members; ULUV Pančevo, 13 members; and ULUV Vršac, 13 members.
In Novi Sad, there were 35 freelance artists. ULUV Novi Sad managed 42 artist studios.
The Union gallery hosted the works of the members across Vojvodina, and the office covered the affairs of the Union of the Associations of Vojvodina and the ULUV Novi Sad.
Spring exhibition featuring the ULUS, SULUV, and ULUK members held in Belgrade, Niš, Priština, and Novi Sad.

1988
37th SULUV Spring exhibition, featuring 108 artists and accompanied by a comprehensive catalog, held at the Gallery of Matica Srpska in Novi Sad, followed by the shows in Niš and Priština.

1990
The Executive Council of the Municipal Assembly of Novi Sad allocated nine artist studios to the Association’s members.
39th SULUV Spring exhibition held at the Museum of the Socialist Revolution of Vojvodina. 

1993
Likovni krug, a specific association of the artists of Petrovaradin Fortress, established.

1994
LIST (Likovna stvarnost), the SULUV members’ newsletter, issue zero, published in collaboration with Krovovi, a magazine for culture and arts published in Sremski Karlovci. In December, the first issue of LIST published as a catalog accompanying the 43rd Annual SULUV exhibition held at the Gallery of Contemporary Art at the SPC Vojvodina and providing additional information for the Association members.
The First Yugoslav Youth Biennale held in Vršac.

1996
45th Annual SULUV exhibition held at the Gallery of Contemporary Art at the SPC Vojvodina, later relocated to the Jovan Popović Gallery in Opovo.
In the period between 1992 and 1996, 41 new SULUV memberships approved.

1998
The First International Multimedia Arts Festival IMAF held at the MAS Gallery (Multimedia Art Studio) in Odžaci.

1999
Representatives of the SR Yugoslavia at the 48th Venice Biennale were the artists showing the sculptures created at the Sculpture Symposium Terra in Kikinda (M. Damjanović, M. Gvozdenović, S. Kojić, M. Marinkov, B.N. Poznanović, and T. Stevanović).

2002
The Academy of Arts in Novi Sad introduced new programs in New Fine Arts Media and Photography.

2004
The Association introduced New Fine Arts Media as a new section / area of artistic practice.

2008
The 57th Annual SULUV Members Exhibition held at the Rajko Mamuzić Gallery, featuring 74 artists.

2009
In accordance with the new law, the Association re-registered as a citizens association SULUV.
The 59th Annual SULUV Members Exhibition held at the Rajko Mamuzić Gallery. 

2011
SULUV was granted the status of a representative institution by the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Serbia.

2012
The 61st Annual SULUV Members Exhibition held at the Rajko Mamuzić Gallery.

2015
The Academy of Arts in Novi Sad introduced doctoral studies in fine and applied arts.
In the following period, the SULUV gallery frequently hosted 3rd level student solo exhibitions-PhD art projects.

2017
Unique museum Terra opened in Kikinda storing almost1000 sculptures created at the International Terracotta Sculpture Symposium.

2018
SULUV programs: The SULUV Members Exhibition Program (solo and group members shows), The Collaboration and Partner Realization Program (exhibition and program exchange through the associations’ network, the realization of events, and established collaboration), The Review Program (event reviews, theoretical analyses), The Education and Research Program (open dialogs, public guided tours, lectures, and seminars), The Exchange Program (visiting international artists), The Publishing Program (annual publications and other published professional materials), and The New Art Practice Program. All the programs dedicated to the current artistic creation and content facilitated by SULUV in collaboration with other institutions and associations in the realm of culture and fine arts.
Initiated a special edition of the SULUV Production annual publication.

2019
In order to promote the local new media artistic practices, the biennial SMIC project launched: mobile small form, the platform for the production and presentation of new artistic forms.
The Exchange Program launched.
The exhibition Space in Contemporary Arts of Vojvodina held at the Kazamat Gallery in Osijek.

2020
Realized the Link It, Mark It ongoing project; included in the Novi Sad – European Capital of Culture (NS EPK) program.
Realized the Art Body Art project, an NS EPK ongoing program.

2021
The SULUV Archives: Seven Decades of Continuity (1946‒2021) research project launched.
Within the project, the first issue Fragments of History (1957-1967) published.
Initiated digitization and publishing of the Association’s archival materials researched and textually presented by Vladimir Mitrović.

2022
The second issue Archives: Fragments of History (1968-1977) published.
SULUV was granted the status of a representative institution by the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Serbia.

2012
The 61st Annual SULUV Members Exhibition held at the Rajko Mamuzić Gallery.

2015
The Academy of Arts in Novi Sad introduced doctoral studies in fine and applied arts.
In the following period, the SULUV gallery frequently hosted 3rd level student solo exhibitions-PhD art projects.

2017
Unique museum Terra opened in Kikinda storing almost1000 sculptures created at the International Terracotta Sculpture Symposium.

2018
SULUV programs: The SULUV Members Exhibition Program (solo and group members shows), The Collaboration and Partner Realization Program (exhibition and program exchange through the associations’ network, the realization of events, and established collaboration), The Review Program (event reviews, theoretical analyses), The Education and Research Program (open dialogs, public guided tours, lectures, and seminars), The Exchange Program (visiting international artists), The Publishing Program (annual publications and other published professional materials), and The New Art Practice Program. All the programs dedicated to the current artistic creation and content facilitated by SULUV in collaboration with other institutions and associations in the realm of culture and fine arts.
Initiated a special edition of the SULUV Production annual publication.

2019
In order to promote the local new media artistic practices, the biennial SMIC project launched: mobile small form, the platform for the production and presentation of new artistic forms.
The Exchange Program launched.
The exhibition Space in Contemporary Arts of Vojvodina held at the Kazamat Gallery in Osijek.

2020
Realized the Link It, Mark It ongoing project; included in the Novi Sad – European Capital of Culture (NS EPK) program.
Realized the Art Body Art project, an NS EPK ongoing program.

2021
The SULUV Archives: Seven Decades of Continuity (1946‒2021) research project launched.
Within the project, the first issue Fragments of History (1957-1967) published.
Initiated digitization and publishing of the Association’s archival materials researched and textually presented by Vladimir Mitrović.

2022
The second issue Archives: Fragments of History (1968-1977) published. 

Босиљка Зиројевић Лечић
Bosiljka Zirojević Lečić 
Curator (SULUV)

Master’s degree obtained from the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad. Over twenty years’ active creative work and exhibiting fine arts pieces. ULUV member since 1995.

252 године ууметности у Војводини
Project:

252 Years of Arts
Memory Strategies
From the history of the arts associations of Vojvodina

Links:
Cooperation:

Make a free site - More here