By: Jasmina Trajkov, museum advisor
In early February 2026, the Regional Museum of Jagodina was enriched by a valuable donation thanks to the generous gesture of local residents Vladan and Dušica Lazarević. They donated the painting Composition with Creatures (1974) by Ilija Vukićević, one of the most prominent representatives of the Jagodina art scene in the second half of the 20th century.
The work is an oil on canvas measuring 99 x 79.5 cm. It bears Vukićević’s recognizable artistic signature, whose oeuvre was presented at the exhibition “In the World of Silence and Small Creatures”, opened at the Regional Museum of Jagodina in late April 2025. The composition is divided into two contrasting color fields: the lower section in brown tonalities and the upper section in shades of blue. In the lower part, stylized whitish creatures are arranged, their elongated forms reaching toward the top of the canvas, creating a dynamic and somewhat fantastical visual rhythm. The painting is exceptionally well preserved and features all characteristic authorial signatures.
The provenance of this donation adds to its special value. The artist personally gifted the painting to Jovan Lazarević, M.D., the donor’s father, with whom he shared not only a friendship but also life as neighbors on the same street. This familial and cultural connection has been passed down through generations and now finds its institutional recognition within the museum space.
The gesture of Vladan and Dušica Lazarević stands as an example of a responsible attitude toward cultural heritage and the community. Their wish for the artwork to be preserved, professionally processed, and made accessible to the public reflects an awareness of the importance of cultural institutions and the role individuals play in enriching them.
With this donation, the Regional Museum of Jagodina not only expands its collection of works by local artists but also continues its mission of preserving and presenting the city’s cultural heritage. The painting by Ilija Vukićević is now on display in the museum’s permanent exhibition, serving as a testament to the richness of the local art scene and to the people who recognized the importance of preserving that heritage for future generations.
