Mária MEDVECKA

Mária Medvecká, born on October 11, 1914, in Medvedzie, and passing away on April 23, 1987, in Bratislava, was a prominent Slovak painter known for her contributions to Slovak Realist Impressionism.

Hailing from the esteemed Medvecký family of Medvedzie and Malý Bysterec (Medveczky de Medveczei és Kis Bisterczei), Medvecká embarked on her artistic journey after completing her secondary education in Košice. She furthered her studies at the Pedagogical Academy in Bratislava before beginning her career as an educator in various towns including Zubrohlava, Tvrdošín, Jablonka, and Námestov.

Following the tumultuous years of the war, Medvecká pursued advanced training at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna and Prague under the mentorship of Professor Želibský. Deeply connected to her homeland of Orava and its inhabitants, she portrayed the region and its people in her artworks.

During the 1950s, Medvecká expanded her artistic repertoire to encompass themes aligned with socialist realism, depicting industrialization and the construction of a socialist society. Notably, she is renowned as the creator of the 10 Kčs banknote, circulated in Czechoslovakia from 1961 to 1988.

A significant portion of Medvecká’s oeuvre is housed in the Maria Medveckova Gallery, established in 1979 in Medvedzí, providing an enduring testament to her life’s work and artistic legacy.