Meet Iva: The Croatian returnee whose art is in demand

Iva Laterza Obuljen (Photo: Private album)

In today’s world, there are countless artists. We live in an era where everyone wants to leave their mark, and social media has only amplified this desire.

However, true artists are much rarer, and among them is Iva Laterza Obuljen, a native of Dubrovnik who studied in America and England.

Iva is now preparing exhibitions in both Istria and Zagreb.

Iva holds a Master of Fine Arts degree, having studied at Goldsmiths, University of London. She returned to Croatia due to the serious illness of her late mother.

(Photo: Private album)

Today, she lives between Dubrovnik and Split, a dynamic that both fulfils and inspires her, owing to her husband’s commitments.

Iva is soon to open her exhibition in Bale, Istria. On 24th August at 8:30 pm, in the Ulika Multimedia Centre, this artist will showcase a cycle of abstractions under the title “Fusion.”

(Photo: Private album)

The exhibition has been supported by the Municipality of Bale, as well as her hometown of Dubrovnik and the Dubrovnik Tourist Board. This exhibition, curated by Jelena Tamindžija Donnart with catalogue design by Kristina Mirošević, is a significant step forward for Iva, who invites all art lovers to join her in Bale.

(Photo: Private album)

Additionally, this talented artist from Dubrovnik is planning an exhibition in Zagreb at Zen Contemporary Art Gallery, where she will present her work in early December.

Although Iva initially studied architecture in America, she eventually made a decisive shift towards fine art. “I chose an artistic path because it offers me complete freedom. It was something I firmly decided at one point, perhaps even unconsciously, but it was necessary for my growth in every aspect. The true artistic journey is unconventional and, in fact, solitary. But we ‘serious’ artists are always ready to fight for our place. It’s a life path that is greater than ourselves,” explains the Dubrovnik artist, who is inspired by architecture, urban environments, graffiti, and reminders of the past that intersect with the present.

(Photo: Private album)

“Painting is my way of expressing myself, a personal development, a blend of inspiration from within and the environment in which we live and move, all intertwined with threads of questioning, exploration, and reflection, which ultimately leave our expression as a personal signature on each created work of art,” says Iva, who compared the life of an artist in Croatia with that abroad.

“I don’t think it’s easy to be an artist anywhere anymore because artists can’t just stay locked in a studio creating. The quality of the work is important, but so is networking, which is often something we artists dislike. Abroad, there are many more opportunities in terms of galleries and collaborations, whereas here, the options are fewer. It is possible to make a living from art in Croatia if an artist collaborates with an international gallery. Otherwise, it’s impossible,” says Iva Laterza Obuljen candidly.

(Photo: Private album)

Her works are displayed on the walls of numerous collectors in Croatia and around the world, and two of her pieces are part of the collection at the Museum of Red History in Dubrovnik. Iva makes an effort to showcase her work on social media, as it helps reach a new audience. However, she doesn’t actively seek out buyers, as they usually find her.

(Photo: Private album)

You can view Iva’s work from 24th August in Bale, Istria, and in early December in Zagreb.