France Mihelič (27 April 1907 – 1 August 1998) was a Slovene painter, one of the key figures in Slovene painting in the second half of the 20th century, known for his

surrealist Surrealism is an art movement, art and cultural movement that developed in Europe in the aftermath of World War I in which artists aimed to allow the unconscious mind to express itself, often resulting in the depiction of illogical or dreamlike s ...

figurative paintings and prints. Mihelič was born in Virmaše near

Škofja Loka Škofja Loka (; ) is a town in Slovenia. It is the economic, cultural, educational, and administrative center of the Municipality of Škofja Loka in Upper Carniola. It has about 12,000 inhabitants. Geography Škofja Loka lies at an elevation of ...

in 1907. He studied art at the Zagreb Academy of Fine Arts between 1927 and 1931. He received the

Prešeren Award The Prešeren Award (), also called the Grand Prešeren Award (), is the highest decoration in the field of artistic and in the past also scientific creation in Slovenia. It is awarded each year by the Prešeren Fund () to two eminent Slovene art ...

three times, in 1949 for his paintings ''Kolona v snegu'' and ''Vaška ječa'', in 1955 for his graphic opus and in 1965 for the set and puppets for a puppet performance of Sinja ptica (Bluebird) staged in 1964 at the Ljubljana Puppet Theatre. He won the

Levstik Award The Levstik Award () is a literary award in Slovenia awarded for achievements in children's literature. It has been bestowed since 1949 by the Mladinska Knjiga Publishing House, making it the first literary award established by a Slovene publishin ...

for his book illustrations four times: in 1949 for his illustrations of Prežihov Voranc's book ''Solzice'' (Lillies of the Valley), in 1951 for

Fran Levstik Fran Levstik (28 September 1831 – 16 November 1887) was a Slovene writer, political activist, playwright and critic. He was one of the most prominent exponents of the Young Slovene political movement. Life and work Levstik was born in 18 ...

's ''Najdihojca'', in 1952 for France Bevk's ''Pestrna'' (Child Minder) and in 1956 for Mira Mihelič's ''Štirje letni časi'' (The Four Seasons). In 1978 he also won the

Jakopič Award The Jakopič Award, also known as the Rihard Jakopič Award ( or ''Nagrada Riharda Jakopiča'') is an art award in Slovenia awarded each year for achievements in the fine arts children's literature. It has been bestowed since 1969 by the Academy of ...

for his life achievement in painting. He was married to the writer and translator Mira Mihelič.

References

Slovenian male painters 20th-century Slovenian illustrators 1907 births 1998 deaths Levstik Award laureates Prešeren Award laureates Jakopič Award laureates People from the Municipality of Škofja Loka Academy of Fine Arts, University of Zagreb alumni Slovenian surrealist artists 20th-century Slovenian painters 20th-century Slovenian male artists {{slovenia-artist-stub