Zuzka Medveďová

Contributions to culture and science:

Zuzka Medveďová was the first woman academic painter among Slovaks from Vojvodina.

Short biography:

Zuzka Medveďová was born in Bački Petrovac. Growing up in a peasant family significantly influenced her creative work. Her teacher noticed Zuzka’s talent and suggested that her parents send her to study art. However, they could not afford that. Zuzka exhibited her works for the first time during the National Assembly and Slovak folk festivities in Petrovac in 1919. As her first exhibition was a success, she could exhibit outside Petrovac – in Zagreb. After that, she went to art studies in Prague. However, she had to quit school for financial reasons. In Bački Petrovac, she organized her first solo exhibition in 1922 in the High School building in Široka Street. Today there is a gallery that bears her name – Zuzka Medveďová Gallery. She then enrolled at the School of Art and Industry in Zagreb, went to Prague again, and graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts. Medveďová mostly painted figural compositions, portraits and still lifes. Folk scenes dominate her figural compositions. During the Second World War, she moved to Slovakia, to Bratislava, and remained there until her death.

Interesting facts (Storytelling):

In 1982, the Municipal Assembly of Bački Petrovac awarded her the October Award. Medveďová was 85 years old and planned to return permanently to Bački Petrovac, leaving for Bratislava during World War II. But she never achieved her intention. Her health deteriorated, so she never came to Petrovac again.