STA, 18 April 2021 - Painters Milena Usenik and Franc Novinc are this year's winners of the Rihar Jakopič Prize for lifetime achievements, the top national award in fine arts and visual art. The 2021 Jakopič Prize will meanwhile go into the hands of painter Silvester Plotajs Sicoe, the judging panel decided last week.
It is yet unclear when the awards will be given out, as the event will depend on the epidemiological situation in the country.
This year, 27 artists have been nominated for the Jakopič Prize and the judging panel decided to take more time than usual to decide on the winners.
Because there had been so many nominations, the judging panel decided to give out not only the Jakopič Prize, an annual award, but also two lifetime achievement awards of equal significance.
It also decided to give special commendations to painters Uršula Berlot and sculptor Paola Korošec.
Even though it is not yet clear when the award ceremony will take place, an exhibition honouring Usenik, Novinc and Plotajs Sicoe will be staged between 22 April and 15 May at the Gallery of the Slovenian Association of Fine Arts Societies.
Named after Rihard Jakopič (1869-1943), a pioneer of Slovenian Impressionism, the Jakopič Prize was first given out in 1969 by the Association of Slovenian Artists, the Academy of Fine Arts and the Museum of Modern Art.
You can see and buy some of Plotajs Silvester Sicoe's work here, and Franc Novinc's work here. We don't know where to buy anything from Milena Usenik.
