Ivica Nikolac (Rijeka, 1960) graduated in Croatian Language and Literature – Organization of Cultural Activities, University of Rijeka (1986). He has been engaged in photography since 1974. Due to his tendency to question his own photographic view of the world, the characteristics of photographic expression, and his focus on the relationship between photographer and society, he can be considered a representative of conceptualism in photography. Nikolac has held about ten solo exhibitions and has participated in more than 70 group exhibitions. He has served as a member of numerous juries, as a member of the Artistic Council of the Photodays Rovinj festival, and as a selector of photography exhibitions at the national level. He was elected four times as president of the Croatian Photographic Association (1998–2014). He is the author and co-author of numerous exhibitions.
He is a mentor and leader of photography workshops, workshops on old photographic techniques, curator, lecturer, and essayist.
Member of the Board of the Croatian Photographic Association, holder of the honorary title HonEFIAP – FIAP (Fédération Internationale de l’Art Photographique / International Federation of Photographic Art).
Recipient of numerous awards and recognitions for photography at international salons of photography and awards for the promotion of photography.
Awards
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- Dobri duh fotografije Award, 2024
- National Annual Award “Faust Vrančić,” 2024
- Annual Award of the City of Rijeka, 2023
- Annual Award of the Croatian Association of Technical Culture, 2022
- Annual Award of the Croatian Photographic Association, 2020
- Annual Award of the City of Rijeka, 2013
- Annual Award of the Rijeka Association of Technical Culture for Encouraging Photographic Creativity, 1997
- National Annual Award “Faust Vrančić,” 2011
- Annual Award of the Croatian Association of Technical Culture, 2007
Member of the Croatian Association of Visual Artists – Rijeka since 1997, HDLU Istria since 2021, and ULUPUH Zagreb since 2021.
Web:
https://www.ivicanikolac.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ivica.nikolac.rijeka
E-mail: ivica.nikolac@gmail.com
Exhibitions and Author Projects
2025
- Author and curator of the project – exhibition “Perception of Dreams”, HDLU Istria
- “When Waste Becomes Art”, HDLU Istria, curator Igor Gustini, work Coffee with Kandinsky (and Man Ray) 1–3
2024
- Annual exhibition of HDLU Rijeka members, works Autumn 0–4 and No Way
- Review exhibition of HDLU Istria members, work Autumn 0–4
- Solo exhibition “This Is My Body”, Gallery Pasaž, Rijeka
- Author and curator of the project – exhibition “Authenticity Lies in the Eye of the Beholder”, HDLU Istria
2023
- Curator of the exhibition “Form of Depiction” – Fanita Barčot-Nikolac, Center for Visual Arts Batana, Rovinj
- Annual exhibition of HDLU Rijeka members
- Review exhibition of HDLU Istria members, work Metropolis
- Solo exhibition – “Metamorphosis of Dream Images”, curator Slaven Tolj, HDLU Istria Gallery, Pula
- Gallery Collegium artisticum, Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina), guest exhibition of HDLU Istria members – “Brainwash” – diptych Thought Diarrhea of Liberation, digital photography/mixed media
- Curator of the exhibition “Form of Depiction” – Fanita Barčot-Nikolac, Milena Milenković, Klović Gallery, HDLU Rijeka
- Curator of the exhibition – Morena Kvaternik, “Sequences of Repeated Time”, Klović Gallery, HDLU Rijeka
2022
- Annual exhibition of HDLU Rijeka members – work Polametraoblaka, Klović Gallery, Rijeka
- Review exhibition of HDLU Istria members – work Polametraoblaka, HDLU Istria Gallery, Pula
- Curator of the exhibition “Street Dialogue” – Aleksandar Tomulić and Ivan Kosić, Klović Gallery, Rijeka
- Thematic project “Art and Eroticism”, diptych Black on White and triptych F(act)ography, curator Milan Marin, HDLU Istria Gallery, Pula
- Croatian Photographers in the Collection of the Rijeka City Museum, City Museum of Rijeka
- Thematic project “Monochromies”, diptych Black on White, curator Luisa Ritoša, Klović Gallery, Rijeka
- Curator of the exhibition “Time of the Sea” – Ivan Kosić, Zvonimir Gallery, Baška
- Thematic project “Art and Eroticism”, triptych F(act)ography and diptych Black on White, curator Milan Marin, MMC Gallery, Umag
- Center for Visual Arts Batana, Rovinj, retrospective photo exhibition “Present Absence”, curator Želimir Koščević
- National Library of Montenegro, Cetinje, solo exhibition “Metamorphosis of Dream Images”, curator Slaven Tolj
- BlokGallery Belgrade, Serbia, solo exhibition “Metamorphosis of Dream Images”, curator Slaven Tolj
2021
- ULUS, Belgrade, Serbia, collection “Imposed Photography”, annual juried exhibition of the Section for Extended Media – IT DIDN’T HAPPEN!, Saša Marčeta Foundation space
- Thematic project “Corpus Humanus”, curator Milan Marin, HDLU Istria, Pula
- Thematic project “In the Atmosphere of Isolation and Solitude”, curator Dr. Enes Quien, HDLU Rijeka, Klović Gallery, Rijeka
- Thematic project “Corpus Humanus”, curator Milan Marin, HDLU Istria, MMC Gallery, Umag
- Association of Fine Artists of Montenegro, Art Pavilion, Podgorica, solo exhibition “Present Absence”, curator Želimir Koščević, within Podgorica Cultural Summer
- Association of Fine Artists of Montenegro, Art Pavilion, Podgorica, Rijeka Mini Art, miniature exhibition, HDLU Rijeka
- Solo exhibition “meneovdjenema”, Klović Gallery, organized by HDLU Rijeka, curator Slaven Tolj
- Annual exhibition of HDLU Rijeka members, work Ljetnica, Klović Gallery, Rijeka
- Annual exhibition of HDLU Istria members, photo collection Between 6 and 7, HDLU Gallery, Pula
- Thematic project “Signs”, collection Depressive Disorder of the Inventor of Reality, curator Eugen Borkovsky, HDLU Istria Gallery, Pula
- Thematic project “Parallel World”, collection Imposed Photography, guest exhibition of HDLU Istria members, Kranj, Slovenia, curator Milan Marin
- Exhibition “Meaningful Coincidences (Art – War – Transition)”, Art Workshop Lazareti, Dubrovnik, curator Slaven Tolj
2020/2021
- Photograph included in the permanent exhibition Neue Zeiten: Österreich seit 1918, Austrian National Library – House of Austrian History, Vienna
2020
- Miniature Salon – Beli Manastir, Second Prize for photo collection
- Thematic project “Art and Politics”, series of 17 works Kumrovec Notes, curator Milan Marin, HDLU Istria, Pula
- Rijeka Mini Art, Rijeka Miniature Art, Klović Gallery, Rijeka
- Annual exhibition of HDLU Rijeka members, Klović Gallery, Rijeka
- Photograph included in the major traveling exhibition After the Great War. A New Europe 1918–1923, organized by European Network Remembrance and Solidarity (PL, DE, HU, RO, SL) and partners: Documenta – Center for Dealing with the Past (Zagreb), Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Rijeka, RIJEKA 2020
- ART/WAR/TRANSITION (1990 – 1991 – 2000 – 2010 – 2020 – 2021), series of 17 works Kumrovec Notes, MMSU – Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Rijeka, curators Slaven Tolj and Branko Cerovac
2019
- Retrospective photo exhibition “Present Absence”, curator Želimir Koščević, Split, Gallery of the Split Photo Club, Marmontova
2018
- Retrospective photo exhibition “Present Absence”, curator Želimir Koščević, Kortil Gallery, Croatian Cultural Center Sušak
2017
- Critic’s Choice – curator Nikola Albaneže, series Imposed Photography, Klović Gallery, Rijeka
2016
- Critic’s Choice – curator Slaven Tolj, series Warmth of Melancholy, Klović Gallery, Rijeka
1998
- Solo exhibition “A Frame for Conversation”, Mali Salon, Rijeka
- 2 Internationale di fotografia, Soligo, Italy
1997
- Alvona Gallery, Labin, group exhibition
1994
- Solo exhibition “A Frame for Conversation”, curator Vladimir Gudac, Mali Salon, Rijeka
1983
- Photo exhibition of three authors: Damir Krizmanić, Ivica Nikolac, Đoko Milekić, Mali Salon, Rijeka
Do you want me to polish this list into a concise CV-style exhibition record (grouped by solo/group/curated exhibitions), or should I keep it as a year-by-year translation exactly like the original?
