Zagreb launches major art exhibitions 'Nova antika' and 'Nova energija

The Archaeological Museum in Zagreb opened Iva Böhm’s solo exhibition “Nova antika” on 2 July. The show links the artist’s personal heritage with ancient Greek artifacts from the collection of her grandfather, Matej Pavletić, and presents new ceramic sculptures, video documentation and a replica of a rare lacrimatory vessel that has been analysed by the Ruđer Bošković Institute and RWTH Aachen.

On the same day the National Museum of Modern Art’s gallery Oktogon inaugurated the central exhibition of the 61st Zagreb Salon, titled “Nova energija”. Curated by Elizabeta Wagner and Ksenija Foretić, the Salon features 164 works by 117 Croatian designers, artists and architects across five themes – Nova funkcionalnost, Estetika otpornosti, Tijelo i prostor, Digitalna svakodnevica and Kritički dizajn – highlighting applied art, digital media and critical design.

Both events underscore the vitality of Croatia’s contemporary art scene, bringing together traditional craft, scientific research and cutting‑edge design.