Škuc Gallery, part of Slovenia's Student Cultural Centre (ŠKUC), is a contemporary

art gallery An art gallery is a room or a building in which visual art is displayed. In Western cultures from the mid-15th century, a gallery was any long, narrow covered passage along a wall, first used in the sense of a place for art in the 1590s. The long ...

located on Stari trg 21 in

Ljubljana {{Infobox settlement , name = Ljubljana , official_name = , settlement_type = Capital city , image_skyline = {{multiple image , border = infobox , perrow = 1/2/2/1 , total_widt ...

Slovenia Slovenia, officially the Republic of Slovenia, is a country in Central Europe. It borders Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the south and southeast, and a short (46.6 km) coastline within the Adriati ...

. Established in 1978, it operates as a central venue for artistic and social initiatives, including visual arts, music, and publishing. The gallery's focus is on

contemporary art Contemporary art is a term used to describe the art of today, generally referring to art produced from the 1970s onwards. Contemporary artists work in a globally influenced, culturally diverse, and technologically advancing world. Their art is a ...

and social issues and engagement.

History

The inception of Škuc Gallery was marked by an exhibition showcasing the OHO group, symbolizing a shift towards the eclectic art of the 1980s. In the early 1980s, under the guidance of Barbara Borčić and Marina Gržinić, Škuc Gallery provided a platform for emerging artists to explore diverse artistic expressions rooted in social critique. This period was notable for its interdisciplinary and open approach, integrating alternative art practices to challenge traditional art perceptions. The gallery also became a hub for subcultural experimentation in Ljubljana's cultural and alternative scenes. The

Neue Slowenische Kunst Neue Slowenische Kunst (; NSK; ) is a political art collective that formed in Slovenia in 1984, when the Socialist Republic of Slovenia was part of Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. NSK's name was chosen to reflect the theme in its works ...

(NSK) movement was closely associated with Škuc. Despite minimal financial support, the gallery thrived, supported by the dedication of its staff and artists. The 1990s saw Škuc Gallery transition into a professionally-run contemporary art space, adapting to Slovenia's changing socioeconomic context. The gallery's roots are intertwined with the broader ŠKUC association, which has significantly impacted various cultural and social fields, including the

LGBT LGBTQ people are individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning. Many variants of the initialism are used; LGBTQIA+ people incorporates intersex, asexual, aromantic, agender, and other individuals. The gro ...

Q movement and the arts. ŠKUC has been instrumental in launching the careers of many artists who later gained international recognition, such as

Marjetica Potrč Marjetica Potrč (; born 1953) is an artist and architect based in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Potrč's interdisciplinary practice includes on-site projects, research, architectural case studies, and drawings (visual essays and diagrams). Her work docum ...

, Dušan Mandič, and Duba Sambolec.

Artistic program

Škuc Gallery primarily exhibits the art of Slovenian contemporary artists. In 2010, the gallery has also hosted exhibitions of international interest such as "Become," which exhibited works by German-born Ljubljana-Amsterdam artist

Ulay Frank Uwe Laysiepen (; 30 November 1943 – 2 March 2020), known professionally as Ulay, was a German artist based in Amsterdam and Ljubljana, who received international recognition for his Polaroid SX-70, Polaroid art and collaborative performan ...

. Another notable international project was "Alternative Economics, Alternative Societies" by Austrian artist

Oliver Ressler Oliver Ressler (born 1970 in Knittelfeld in Austria) is an artist who lives and works in Vienna. He produces theme-specific exhibitions, projects in the public space and videos on issues such as global capitalism, forms of resistance, social alter ...

, focusing on self-management and alternative economic models. This installation, first exhibited in 2003, showcased videotaped statements from scholars, artists, and activists, reflecting on alternative economic systems and societies. The association's publishing arm specializes in LGBTQ literature. The gallery also hosts Europe's oldest LGBTQ film festival.

References

{{Coord, 46, 2, 49.4, N, 14, 30, 23.8, E, display=title 1978 establishments in Slovenia Art museums and galleries established in 1978 Contemporary art galleries Art museums and galleries in Ljubljana