On Tuesday, September 30 at 7 p.m., the exhibition “Drawings” by renowned Montenegrin artist Ilija Branko Burić will open at the Petrović Castle, organized by the Museum of Contemporary Art of Montenegro. The exhibition is curated by Marina Čelebić.

Burić returns to the Petrović Castle exhibition space after almost three decades—his first show here was in 1995. The new display, while remaining true to his recognizable motifs and drawing style, presents more than 70 percent new works, affirming both the consistency and the continual evolution of his artistic practice.

For Ilija Branko Burić, drawing is the primary medium of expression and a realm of inner life. His works, ranging from figurative to abstract, reveal a powerful exploration of form, movement, and states of mind. The exhibition comprises expressive, repetitive, and gestural pieces grouped into series, where rhythms of order and chaos alternate in suggestive visual ensembles.

“Although he owns an enormous number of drawings, Ilija prepares each presentation with the same care as if he were exhibiting for the first time. His oeuvre keeps growing, and he deserves respect for his unobtrusiveness, perseverance, and devoted work that has lasted for nearly four decades,” emphasizes curator Marina Čelebić.

This documented overview of four decades of work, presented through the exhibition, also serves as a special homage to drawing—a medium to which the artist has given its well-deserved place on the Montenegrin art scene, Čelebić concludes in the exhibition catalog text.

Ilija Branko Burić, retired professor of drawing at the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Montenegro, has left a profound mark on the country’s visual arts scene, shaping generations of young artists. His artistic curiosity, uncompromising dedication to drawing, and distinctive style have made him one of Montenegro’s most significant contemporary  creators.