12 Facts About Antun Motika

Antun Motika was an innovative artist, not attached to any particular artistic school or tendency.

Motika was one of four children of Anka, originally from Bakar, who was from a family of sailors, and Antun Motika, who was from Motiki, near Orbanici, Marcana.

Antun Motika's father was born into a family of farmers.

Antun Motika attended schools in Pula, Zminj, Pazin and Susak, where he graduated in 1921.

Antun Motika studied sculpture at the Royal Academy of Art and Crafts with R Valdec in Zagreb, only to eventually switch to painting, graduating in 1926.

Antun Motika made use of the form principles of neoclassical figuration as well as synthetic cubism.

Antun Motika became a professor in Mostar, where he lived and painted from 1929 to 1940.

Simply put, before Paris, Antun Motika's paintings are generally dark, after Paris the paintings are overtaken by light.

Antun Motika drew his favorite motifs and themes from his immediate surroundings.

Antun Motika organized his first exhibitions in Zagreb, gaining attention and positive reactions, and the good propensity of art critics towards him.

Antun Motika painted less often, experimented more and more, drew sketches and made projects, and the number of his exhibitions drastically decreased.

Antun Motika painted and exhibited with Pablo Picasso, who reportedly praised his work.