Dragan Bartula

Dragan Bartula (1959–2023) was a Serbian painter, scenographer, and art educator. He was born in Sokolac, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and lived and worked in Loznica, Serbia. Bartula studied sociology in Sarajevo and attended the Pedagogical Academy in Šabac. He was the founder of the “Mina Karadžić” gallery in Loznica and worked as a scenographer for numerous theater productions.

Throughout his career, Bartula held 54 solo exhibitions and participated in over 150 group exhibitions and more than 100 art colonies in Serbia and abroad. His work was shown in Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Russia, and other countries. He was a member of several art associations, including ULUS (Association of Fine Artists of Serbia), ULSŠ (Šabac Art Association), ULUIH (Eastern Herzegovina Art Association), and the Artistic Brotherhood of the Dobrun Monastery.

Bartula received numerous awards for his contributions to art, including the First Prize at the Šabac October Salon, the Grand Prize at the Second Nude Biennale, and international recognition such as the Second Prize at Art Fest Doral in Miami. He was also honored with the “Boje Srbije” commendation in Moscow and the Vuk Award in 2018.

He passed away unexpectedly in Loznica on August 29, 2023.