Peca Rajkovic
Born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, on March 21, 1957, I completed my education at the University of Belgrade, Faculty of Applied Arts. Applied in this case means art creation of either outdoor or indoor artworks, applied to a specific situation or occasion. During the six-year tenure at the University, I worked on traditional techniques of easel painting and drawing. In addition, I explored other painting techniques such as mosaic, al secco, al fresco, sgraphito, and all kinds of tempera.
After an exhibition in the “House of Djura Jaksic” in 1991, I was awarded an opportunity to present his work in “Knjizevna Rec”(The Literary Word), a magazine that covered the Yugoslavian cultural and artistic sphere. Another published review featured his 1992 exhibition in the National Museum in Valjevo, called “Drawings From the Wonderland”, that cast light upon the most significant art contributions of the year. This review was written by Gordana Stanisic-Ristovic, the curator of the National Museum in Belgrade. I left behind three public murals in Belgrade ( 5×4 meters in size each ), five mosaics that were purchased by private patrons and a large collection of oils and drawings.
In 1992, the religious and educational community “St. Sava” in Edmonton contacted and commissioned me to paint 23 icons, and one mosaic for the main entrance of the St Sava church. In 1994, I arrived in Canada and soon choose to live in the Old Strathcona area, as one of the nicest neighborhoods in Edmonton.
After completing the icons, I also made five mosaics, two of which for the same church. One of them was dedicated to the patron of the church, “St. Sava”, and was placed in the arch, above the main entrance. (12904-112 Street) The work on the iconostase was highly regarded and gained positive reviews on behalf of those who commissioned the work, as well as on behalf of the Association of the Orthodox Clergymen of Edmonton.
I have continued to live in the same community to the present date, and have had many exhibitions. In 2010 alone, I had two international solo exhibitions. I have had students in my studio, have given art lessons across Edmonton, but also at the Old Strathcona Community Hall on many occasions.
www.vertigodesign.net/pecasart
Solo Exhibitions
1983 The Student’s Union Gallery, Belgrade, Yugoslavia
1989 Gallery in the house of Djura Jaksic, a famous poet of the 19th century’s Serbia
1990 Gallery “BIGZ”, Valjevo, Serbia
1991 Gallery in The House of Djura Jaksic, Belgrade
1991 Gallery of the Public Library of Belgrade, Serbia
1992 The National Museum in Valjevo, Serbia
1997 Ziegler-Hughes Gallery, Edmonton, Canada
1998 Paperboys, Edmonton
2000 Gallery 124, 124 Street, Jasper Ave, Edmonton, Canada
2005 Stanley Milner Library, Main Floor Gallery, Edmonton, Canada
2006 Eric’s Gallery, Edmonton
2007 Eric’s Gallery, Edmonton
2010 The National Museum Of Valjevo, Valjevo, Serbia
2010 The Cultural Centre of Sabac, Sabac, Serbia
2012 Jubilee Auditorium, KAASA Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Selected Group Exibitions
1983 “N.O.B.E.L.I.N.A. (New Artistic Hopes of Belgrade, Culture Centre)
1984 ” 1984 Together ’84” in Sarajevo, BIH, Yugoslavia
1984 Belgrade ’84”, a prestigious exhibition in Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia
1985 Belgrade ’85 upon invitation at this annual exhibition
1989 Art gallery “Astrapas” in Nis, Serbia, Yugoslavia
1989 “The Atrium Gallery”, Belgrade
1992 The annual “October Art Salon”, Kovin, Yugoslavia
1995 “Out of Canada/Displaced”, Latitude 53, Edmonton, Canada
1996 “Mysterious Signature”, Harcourt Gallery, Edmonton, Canada
1996 “Figurative/Portrait”, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
1996 Serendipity Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
1996 Latitude 53, Edmonton, Alberta Canada
1997 Pentington, British Columbia, Canada
1997 Latitude 53, Edmonton, Canada
1998 Latitude 53, Edmonton, Canada
1998 Curator’s Choice, Latitude 53, Edmonton, Canada
2000 Gallery 124, 124 Street, Jasper Ave, Edmonton, Canada
2003 Spectrum Gallery, Edmonton, Canada
2005 Urban Roots, Edmonton
2010 AGA, A creative Cause Event, donors for the homeless