Annual Exhibition of Student Works Opened and the “Alija Kučukalić” Award Presented for the 2024/2025 Academic Year
On Thursday, 30 October, at the Academy of Fine Arts of the University of Sarajevo, in celebration of the Academy’s Day and its 53rd anniversary, the Annual Exhibition of Student Works was officially opened.
This selective annual exhibition showcases the creative achievements of final-year students during the 2024/2025 academic year, offering insights into diverse artistic approaches and creative solutions realized across departments such as Teaching, Graphics, Painting, Sculpture, Graphic Design, Product Design, as well as the Department of Photography and Multimedia. It also provides an opportunity to reflect on the results of collaborative efforts between educators and students and to highlight the role of young creators as future carriers of artistic, creative, and educational activities, both within the Bosnian-Herzegovinian cultural-artistic context and beyond.
As part of the Academy’s Day celebrations, the traditional “Alija Kučukalić” Award for the best student work is presented, representing one of the most important recognitions awarded by the Academy of Fine Arts of the University of Sarajevo to its students. Established in 1997 in honor of the prominent Bosnian-Herzegovinian artist, professor, and sculptor Alija Kučukalić (1937–1992), the award symbolizes the continuity of artistic excellence, dedication, and pedagogical spirit that marked his work and career. For students of the Academy, this recognition holds special motivational and symbolic significance. It not only confirms achievement within their studies but also recognizes their artistic sensibility, innovation, and responsibility toward their artistic vocation.
Thanks to the support of the long-term partner, Raiffeisen Bank Sarajevo, the sponsor of the award, nominated students will have the opportunity to present their work to the public through solo exhibitions in the bank’s gallery space in the upcoming period.
The Award Committee, composed of Prof. Dr. Dubravka Pozderac Lejlić, Assoc. Dr. Ema Mazrak, Assoc. Dr. Lamija Neimarlija, V. Assist. Anja Bogojević, and V. Assist. Amila Handžić Ferović, reviewed the student works nominated by their departments.
This year’s candidates for the award are:
- Painting Department: Milan Stanojević
- Sculpture Department: Džejlana Demir
- Teaching Department: Sumeja Mehmedović
- Graphics Department: Arijana Hodžić
- Graphic Design Department: Merjem Velispahić
- Product Design Department: Faruk Ibišević
- Department of Photography and Multimedia: Sergej Mačar
From the departments, commendations were given to: Samir Mrković, Emina Murtezić, Kenan Čilić, and students from the ALU Student Association for the humanitarian exhibition “Art for Humanity.”
In addition to the nominated students, the committee highlighted the works of Samir Mrković from the Product Design Department and Merjem Jasavić from the Graphic Design Department, as well as the initiative of the ALU Student Association, which demonstrated solidarity, social awareness, and concrete community support through organizing the humanitarian sale exhibition “Art for Humanity.” The exhibition featured over 130 artworks of various techniques and formats, with the proceeds donated to the organization Pomozi.ba to aid flood-affected areas in the municipalities of Jablanica, Konjic, Kreševo, and Kiseljak in early October 2024.
The “Alija Kučukalić” Award for the 2024/2025 academic year will be shared by two students: Faruk Ibišević from the Product Design Department for his work “Design of a Transport Vehicle in the Context of a Possible Systemic Solution (City of Sarajevo),” and Milan Stanojević from the Painting Department for his work “Portraits and People.”
Faruk Ibišević’s work explores the future of urban mobility through a design approach that connects systemic analysis with the development of an integrated mobility model for Sarajevo. Through the TraSa concept, a flexible system is proposed that links public transportation, alternative modes of movement, and digital technologies with the aim of creating a humane and sustainable urban environment.
Milan Stanojević’s work investigates the boundaries between portraiture, caricature, and grotesque, creating a recognizable and thought-provoking painterly expression derived from careful observation of people and their daily lives. Through artistic experiments with materials, layered application of paint, and glazes, Milan achieves a balance between technical precision and expressive freedom.
The works of Milan and Faruk represent two different but complementary approaches to artistic activity—while Milan’s painting delves into the introspective and emotional world of the individual, Faruk’s design concept directs attention toward the collective future and sustainable urban systems.
The committee highlighted that this year’s exhibition showcased significant progress in the execution and interpretation of teaching tasks, with innovative and high-quality visual and design solutions.
The annual exhibition of student works can be visited at the Gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts, Obala Maka Dizdara 3, until November 7, 2025, every weekday from 10:00 to 18:00.
