Herman Pečarič Collection –
New set up |
Herman Pečarič Gallery, Piran |
Opening: Friday, June 6, 2026, at 5 p.m.
Set up: Ana Papež, Tatjana Sirk.
“The most fertile phase of the activity of the Piran painter Herman Pečarič (1908–1981) dates back to the second half of the last century. Almost indifferent to the prevailing artistic trends of the time, the artist cultivated a highly personal expressive language marked by a strong sensitivity to color, realistic form, and motifs deeply rooted in the reality of Slovenian Istria. (…) Even a very quick glance at his permanent donation-collection reveals how much he drew on this rich and varied repertoire throughout practically all of his creative phases. Landscapes arose in fleeting moments of inspiration, when the artist, on numerous canvases (and very often drawings as well), captured the relaxed rhythms of the everyday life of coastal people, the changing images of the seasons, or the barely perceptible shifts of light throughout the day. In depicting picturesque panoramic views or glimpses of alleyways and cityscapes, he often shifted from tonal painting to a method of spatial coloration, through which he succeeded in making the colors speak at their fullest intensity, to the point of their pure, original language. (…) With particular passion he devoted himself to landscapes depicting olive groves, to which he owes, among other things, his great popularity.”
Herman Pečarič donated to the city of Piran a rich collection of paintings, drawings, and graphic works, characterized mostly by Istrian motifs. After many years of efforts, in 1999 the collection found its home in a refurbished building dating from the transition between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, which at that time was designated as a gallery. Dedicated to the artist, it serves as a permanent display of his artistic legacy. The collection is preserved and managed by the Piran Coastal Galleries, which are also responsible for its public presentation and promotion. Over the years, several selections from the collection have been exhibited; Pečarič’s work has also been the subject of various interesting temporary exhibitions (Olive Grove with Red Earth, 2008; My Studio at Night, 2015; An Easel for Two, 2018 …) and other mostly educational projects (When a Line Appears, 2025).
The gallery underwent renovation again at the end of 2025, under the direction of the Municipality of Piran, and now presents itself with a renewed façade in an elegant shade. The gallery is now prepared to host the new layout of the Pečarič collection, and the works selected by curators Ana Papež and Tatjana Sirk will this time occupy the walls of both the ground floor and the first floor of the gallery.
The exhibition of selected works and works on paper will be inaugurated on the occasion of the Slovenian Cultural Holiday, on Friday, 6 February 2026, at 5 p.m.
For further insight into the work of the artist Herman Pečarič, please consult the digitalized catalogue.
1 Majda Božeglav Japelj: Olive Grove with Red Earth, Coastal Galleries Piran, Piran, March 2008, pp. 4–5.
