Bernard Simunovic, a Croatian artist and designer with an inspiring life story, escaped the Balkan conflict as a refugee in the early 1990s. His journey took him far from his mother, hometown, and family, prompting him to interrupt his studies and seek refuge in Germany as an unaccompanied minor. Despite these formidable challenges, Simunovic remained resolute in his pursuit of the fine arts, ultimately achieving remarkable proficiency in a wide array of techniques, ranging from classical painting to the realms of collage and sculpture.
Simunovic’s
work plays with color, form, and minimalist lines to create abstract figures.
The compositions in his work begin as sculptural studies and are then worked
through with the meticulous application of acrylic, oil, spray paint, and
collage. His array of technical abilities comes from an extensive education in
the Fine Arts which began with his studies at the Academy of Sarajevo with a
focus on graphic arts and painting. When this was interrupted by the Balkan war
Simunovic finished his work in Bielefeld, Germany.
Simunovic’s
carefully crafted compositions frequently express a delicate sense of intimacy
and introspection. A simple black line, the “thread of life,” runs through and
along clever color-blocking. Together the two principle elements formulate
Simunovic’s lyrical figures who appear in transient states of delight, love, or
contemplation. As the simple contour line is combined with classical painting
and collage a work of extraordinary composition and delightful simplicity is
created.
In
his latest work, Bernard unites the disciplines of fine art, practical design,
and sculpture with unique compositions that appeal to both the creative and
practical. Graphic paintings, carefully thought out with shadow and light, become
sculptural. His artwork is characterized by impeccable craftsmanship; and a
stimulating and unsuspecting complexity, drawn from the strength of simplicity.
EXHIBITIONS
2020-23 Artplex Gallery, Los Angeles
2023 Collette Home, " A night in Paris" New York
Dorotheen Quartier in Stuttgart, Group show
2022 Kantgaragen / STILWERK Berlin, Germany, Group show
In The Wake Of Movement / Artplex Gallery - Los Angeles, USA, Group show
Life In Colors - Colorful, Powerful, Beautiful / f6 - the open factory - Vienna, Austria, Group show
2020 Jockey Club / Hong Kong, Solo show
Paul Smith NO. 9 - MAYFAIR - London, UK, Solo show
2019 Artsleuth - Hong Kong, Group show
2019 Kutlesa Gallery Switzerland
Artspace Warehouse, Los Angeles
2018 Art Arcadia Gallery, San Francisco
2017 Pikto Galerija, Zagreb, Croatia
2016 Artwista Gallery, Berlin
Carlos Reid Gallery, Florida
2015 Depot, Dortmund
2014 Westfalenhutte, Dortmund
2013 Group show 44|88, Kunstschauraum Showroom, Berlin
Studios Gallery, New York
Bushwick Open Studios, New York
Group show 44|88, Kunstshauraum, Showroom, Berlin
Art Monaco
International Art Expo, New York
AAF, Brussels
Burgerhaus, Essen
2012 Solo Exhibition, “Lebensfaden,” Berswordthalle, Dortmund
2011 Solo Exhibition, “Observation II,” Blaues Haus, Dortmund
2002 Kunsthalle Bielefield, Art Exhibition OWL
Creations Art Fair Sinsheim Design/Art
2001 Creations Art Fair Sinsheim Design/Art
2000 Solo Exhibition, “Zeichen Untertage,” Galerie FH Bielefeld
Solo Exhibition, “Zeichnen Untertage,“ Zeche Friedrich-Heinrich, Kamp-Lintfort
1999 Diploma Exhibition, FH Bielefeld
Solo Exhibition Mercator Hall, Duisburg
ZiF (Center for Interdisciplinary Research), Bielefeld
1998 Group Exhibition, KHG, Bielefeld
1997 Solo Exhibition, Aldegrever Gesellschaft, Munster
1996 “Observations,” St. Joseph Church Bielefeld
“Sarajevo – A Wounded City,” UNESCO, traveling exhibition in 40 European cities and New York, USA
1995 Group Exhibition, Mercator Hall, Duisburg
1994 International Literature Café Bielefeld
1992 “Stop the War in Croatia,” with Croatian Artist Branimir Cilic, NRW
1991 Gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts, Sarajevo
COLLECTIONS
Hotels, Companies, International Private collectors
1999 ZiF Art Collection, Bielefeld
Aldegrever Gesellschaft
Schloss Solitude
TV & FILM
All Rise, WBTV
