Safet Zec

Born in 1943, Safet Zec was born in Rogatica, Bosnia. After studying in Sarajevo, he graduated from the School of Applied Arts, then attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Belgrade. After obtaining his post-graduate diploma, Safet Zec became the central figure of "poetic realism" in his homeland. In 1992, he fled and set off for Italy where he later settled. By 1998, the artist occupied his very own studio in Venice near San Francesco della Vigna’s church. Furthermore, Safet Zec had an engraving workshop in Paris, France as well. 

Today, he is known as one of the greatest living European artists. Jorge Semprun, one of his admirers, was struck by "the silence of life that emanates from the paintings of Safet Zec, forever".