Biography
Davor Zilic was born on January 7, 1975 in Petrinja where he completed primary school. In 1989, he enrolled in the School of Applied Art and Design in Zagreb, Painting Department. Then in 1993 he enrolled in the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb, from which he graduated in 1997 with a MA of Fine Art in Painting. After graduation he became a member of the Croatian Society of Visual Artists (HDLU), International Association of Art (IAA) and LIKUM. In 2005, he graduated from The Faculty of Teacher Education in Petrinja (psychological-pedagogical courses).
At the beginning of his high school education, war started in Croatia and after his hometown Petrinja was occupied in 1991, Zilic and his family became a refuge. The four years of their exile were filled with uncertainty and constant searching the roof over their heads. In the summer of 1995, the war finally ended and the family returned to liberated Petrinja. This war experience taught Zilic to appreciate every moment of life, transforming him into an extremely dedicated and optimistic person. His works reflect his personality.
From the beginning of his schooling he showed interest in painting techniques of old masters and experimented with the use of various painting materials, developing his recognizable and very realistic method of works. Zilic's proficiency and knowledge, shown in his paintings, were shared through the lectures and seminars, which he held across the country in past few years. In 2008, his first book “Secrets of Oil Painting – Guide to Oil Painting Materials” was published in which he collected and presented his acquired knowledge in the use of oil painting materials and techniques.
War struggles caused great destruction of Croatian cultural heritage, especially of the sacred buildings, which mostly date from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Because of Zilic’s notable knowledge of the old masters painting techniques, he is actively involved in the reconstruction of destroyed or lost art works.
Zilic presented his works on over 55 independent and group exhibitions, held in Croatia and abroad. Some of the most renowned international exhibitions maintained in London, New York, Ohio, Frankfurt and St. Wendel. Zilic's works were introduced to every region of his country, included places such as Croatian capital city - Zagreb, Karlovac, Pula, Sisak, Petrinja, Kutina, Milna, Punat, Bol, Pozega, Popovaca, Samobor, Ivanic Grad, Hrvatska Kostajnica, Garesnica, Delnicama, Virje, Topusko, Jastrebarsko, Split etc.
For his work he has received numerous awards and honors. Zilic was the winner of the Postage Stamp Contest on the occasion of the Earth Day in 1994, organized by HPT (Croatian Post and Telecommunication). As the best graduate, he received Award of Academy of Fine Arts and Zagreb Bank. In early 2004, he became the finalist of The Art Renewal Center International Salon Competition. In April the same year, he received the "Merit Award" at one of the most prestigious International Portrait Contest, organized by The Portrait Society of America. He won the bronze medal and the Military's Ordinary of Croatian Ministry of Defense. At the 2008 Competition of „The Artist's Magazine", Zilic became finalist in the category of landscape painting.
At the end of 2003, Davor Zilic and his brother Igor established first private gallery in their region, named "Gallery Zilic", which represents Zilic's works, but also works of other 30, mostly local, visual artists.
Currently, Davor lives and paints in his home town of Petrinja. Since 2007, he is professor at the Faculty of Teacher Education of Zagreb University.
At the beginning of his high school education, war started in Croatia and after his hometown Petrinja was occupied in 1991, Zilic and his family became a refuge. The four years of their exile were filled with uncertainty and constant searching the roof over their heads. In the summer of 1995, the war finally ended and the family returned to liberated Petrinja. This war experience taught Zilic to appreciate every moment of life, transforming him into an extremely dedicated and optimistic person. His works reflect his personality.
From the beginning of his schooling he showed interest in painting techniques of old masters and experimented with the use of various painting materials, developing his recognizable and very realistic method of works. Zilic's proficiency and knowledge, shown in his paintings, were shared through the lectures and seminars, which he held across the country in past few years. In 2008, his first book “Secrets of Oil Painting – Guide to Oil Painting Materials” was published in which he collected and presented his acquired knowledge in the use of oil painting materials and techniques.
War struggles caused great destruction of Croatian cultural heritage, especially of the sacred buildings, which mostly date from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Because of Zilic’s notable knowledge of the old masters painting techniques, he is actively involved in the reconstruction of destroyed or lost art works.
Zilic presented his works on over 55 independent and group exhibitions, held in Croatia and abroad. Some of the most renowned international exhibitions maintained in London, New York, Ohio, Frankfurt and St. Wendel. Zilic's works were introduced to every region of his country, included places such as Croatian capital city - Zagreb, Karlovac, Pula, Sisak, Petrinja, Kutina, Milna, Punat, Bol, Pozega, Popovaca, Samobor, Ivanic Grad, Hrvatska Kostajnica, Garesnica, Delnicama, Virje, Topusko, Jastrebarsko, Split etc.
For his work he has received numerous awards and honors. Zilic was the winner of the Postage Stamp Contest on the occasion of the Earth Day in 1994, organized by HPT (Croatian Post and Telecommunication). As the best graduate, he received Award of Academy of Fine Arts and Zagreb Bank. In early 2004, he became the finalist of The Art Renewal Center International Salon Competition. In April the same year, he received the "Merit Award" at one of the most prestigious International Portrait Contest, organized by The Portrait Society of America. He won the bronze medal and the Military's Ordinary of Croatian Ministry of Defense. At the 2008 Competition of „The Artist's Magazine", Zilic became finalist in the category of landscape painting.
At the end of 2003, Davor Zilic and his brother Igor established first private gallery in their region, named "Gallery Zilic", which represents Zilic's works, but also works of other 30, mostly local, visual artists.
Currently, Davor lives and paints in his home town of Petrinja. Since 2007, he is professor at the Faculty of Teacher Education of Zagreb University.