Born in Loznica on 12 June 1923, Mića Popović, a renowned painter from the second half of the 20th century, grew up in Belgrade after his family relocated there when he was four. He completed his primary and grammar school education in the city.
Following World War II, he started attending the Academy of Fine Arts in 1946 as a student of Nedeljko Gvozdenović, but later that same year, he transferred to the class of Ivan Tabaković. Alongside his classmates from Tabaković’s class, he formed the well-known Zadar Group in the spring of the following year. However, they were expelled from the Academy for neglecting their classes in the autumn. Although the others were eventually readmitted, Mića Popović continued his artistic journey as a freelance painter.
In 1950, Popović held an extraordinary solo exhibition featuring 160 paintings and accompanied by a catalogue containing his reflections on modern art. After the exhibition, he embarked on a journey to Paris with his wife, Vera Božičković Popović, exploring various Mediterranean destinations along the way. Upon their return to Belgrade in 1952, Popović curated an exhibition titled “The Village of Nepričava” at the Museum of Vuk and Dositej. During this period, he delved into the theory of art and published his first book on the subject, titled “Clashes and Harmonies,” in 1954. Subsequently, he showcased his exhibition “Fog to the Bones” at the Art Pavilion in Kalemegdan Park, followed by numerous exhibitions both in the country and abroad.
In the late 1950s, Popović began painting during his Informalism period, showcasing his works for the first time in 1960 at the Museum of Applied Arts in Belgrade. He became a regular exhibitor at the October Salon and joined the art group Lada in 1965. Throughout the 1960s, he received various awards for his artwork and expanded his horizons to theater and direction. In 1963, he directed his first feature film, “The Man from the Oak Forest,” followed by a theater production titled “Viktor or Children in Power” at Atelje 212 two years later. Additionally, he directed films such as “Roj,” “Kameni despot i jedina mogućnost narodne pesme,” “Hasanaginica,” “Delije,” and “Burduš.”
Subsequently, in terms of painting, Popović returned to figuration but in a unique manner. In 1971, he organized a solo exhibition titled “Scene Painting” at the Museum of Modern Art. He then embarked on a series of international travels, visiting China, Thailand, India, and Iran. While exhibitions continued to follow, his major solo exhibition at the Cultural Centre of Belgrade in 1974 was unexpectedly cancelled just before its opening.
In 1980, Popović and his family headed to America, embarking on an extensive journey throughout the country.
www.ftn-books.com has the Belgrade book from1984 now available.
