Josip Restek was born on March 7, 1915 in Volavje near Jastrebarsko, not far from Zagreb. After graduating from the Classical Gymnasium in Zagreb, in 1940 he graduated in painting from the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb under professors Ljubo Babić and Omer Mujadžić, and a year later he specialized in graphics under professor Tomislav Krizman. In the same year he also completed his studies in art history at the Faculty of Philosophy in Zagreb. He supplemented his graphic and fine arts education with numerous study stays in European cities, pulsating centers of fine and graphic expression, such as Venice, Milan, and especially Paris, where he worked as a lithographer in the Edmond Desjobert studio, and in 1964 he perfected his skills in the technique of intaglio printing in the Johnny Friedländer studio in Paris. During his numerous visits to Paris, he held a solo exhibition of prints, with a foreword by Eduard Goerf, at the Galerie Simone Badenijer and visited numerous galleries (often in the company of Slavko Kopać), museums and painting gatherings where he also gained international recognition. This is also where Restek’s fascination with European abstraction and formalism is at work, which shapes his artistic, and especially graphic, expression. He perfects graphic approaches such as letterpress printing (woodcut, linocut), intaglio printing (aquatint, drypoint, etching) and flat printing (lithography), which soon turns into multimedia graphic skills and distinctive artistic expression and brings him numerous recognitions and awards at the domestic and European level. In 1970, the Accademia internationale Tommaso Campanella named him an “honoris causa” member with a diploma and a silver medal, at the VI. and VII. In 1972, he was awarded the Medal for Graphic Arts by the Lika Annals in Gospić, in 1972, he was decorated with the Order of Labor with a Silver Star, in 1979, he was awarded the prize at the 4th Exhibition of Yugoslav Portraits in Tuzla, in 1980, the Accademia Italia delle Arte e Lavori named him an academician with a gold medal, and in 1982, he received the Gold Medal of the Accademia Italia delle Arte e del Lavoro in Salsomaggiore Terme. Since the 1940s, he has regularly exhibited at domestic and international exhibitions, of which it is worth mentioning the first retrospective exhibition, which was held at the Museum of Arts and Crafts in Zagreb from 5 to 31 March 1985, as well as the posthumous, second retrospective exhibition at Klovićevi dvori in Zagreb, October – November 2003, curator Biserka Rauter Plančić, and the exhibition in honor of the centenary of the artist’s birth at the Lotrščak Tower in Zagreb, from 9 to 20 May 2015, curator Petra Vugrinec.
From 1973 until his retirement in 1982, he worked as a professor at the Higher School of Graphics in Zagreb, teaching graphic design and art and graphic culture, and published the textbook Basics of Graphic Design (1975) and Tabular Overview of Art and Graphic Culture (1976). In 1978, he organized a permanent exhibition of Josip Restek’s paintings and graphics in his birthplace in Volavje.
Josip Restek died in Zagreb on May 13, 1987.

Critical and journalistic reviews

“With authentic creativity in a wide range of his artistic interests, Restek is undoubtedly one of the most elite Croatian modernist graphic artists and an artist at the highest European level. He engraves, cuts, and decomposes the board to an expressive and voluminous modeling of the graphic sheet, to a tangible explosion. “. Prof. Biserka Rauter Plančić ,
Josip Restek, catalogue of the retrospective exhibition at the Klovićevi Dvori gallery in Zagreb,
2003,
pp. 6-7. ”

… the epithet of elitism is equally supported by the “moral beauty” of the artist’s creation and life. Modesty and true enjoyment in artistic creation without the desire to pander to temporary fashions are the qualities that adorn his work. Restek’s oeuvre exudes a human measure, a rarely achieved harmony and peace. His consistency is mimesis, and his creation and search are continuity that is manifested in the enviable mastery of graphic thinking.
“Restek’s stylistic expression … from concrete painting and figurative realism … through the liberation of form through expressionistic morphological interventions in the landscape, all the way to lyrical abstraction, when he abandons mundane and contemporary themes with his motifs, abstracting appearances to cosmic visions.”

Dr. sci. Petra Vugrinec ,
Josip Restek – Landscape, From Form to Informel
Catalogue of the exhibition celebrating the centenary in the Lotrščak Tower in Zagreb
2015,
pp. 6-7.

In this assessment, I would nevertheless like to highlight the importance of Restek’s graphic work, which undoubtedly ranks at the very top of Croatian graphic art of the 1950s and 1960s. At that time, Restek created some of the most significant works of our Art Informel using the techniques of aquatint, linocut, woodcut and copperplate engraving, which undoubtedly reach European heights. As a graphic artist, Restek gained fame and recognition on an equal footing in the eminent competition of the graphic elite at international exhibitions and biennials.

Dr. sci. Ivanka Reberski ,
Valorization of the donation of works of art by painter Josip Restek to the City of Zagreb,
2006.

Given the methodical and studious nature of his work, there is no doubt that Restek achieved his optimum in the graphic medium, especially in intaglio printing, especially in juvigravures. His drawings and watercolors, gouaches, and even monotypes often served as preparation for cutting into panels and producing them in layered sheets, so the graphic part of his work is representative, both on a national and universal scale. .” Academician Dr. Tonko Maroević ,
Valorization of the donation of works of art by painter Josip Restek to the City of Zagreb,
2006. “ Restek is included in a large series of lyrical informalism … in his graphic sheets, and even in some oils, he completely envelops figural traces with intense abstract graphics. ” Zdenko Rus ,
Abstract art in Croatia,
1985

Awards – overview

1982. Gold medal from the Accademia Italia delle Arte e del Lavoro in Salsomaggiore Terme

1980. Accademia Italia delle Arte e Lavori, appointment as academician 1979. Prize at the 4th Yugoslav Portrait Exhibition in Tuzla 1972. Decoration with the Order of Labor with Silver Star

1971. VI and VII Lika Annals in Gospic, Plaque for graphics

1970. Accademia Internationale Tommaso Campanella, appointment as a member “honoris causa” with diploma and silver medal from

1956. Second prize in the competition for a large mural for the Federal Executive Council entitled “Earth and Space”

Solo exhibitions

  • 2020. Jastrebarsko, City Museum Gallery, Exhibition of the entire gallery collection of Josip Restek , 09.09.2020
  • 2015. Zagreb, Klovićevi Dvori Gallery, Lotrščak Tower, Solo exhibition, Josip Restek, Landscape, From Form to Informel , on the occasion of the centenary of the birth of the painter, graphic artist and restorer Josip Restek, 09-20.05. Jastrebarsko, Jastrebarsko City Museum, Jastrebarsko City Gallery, Solo exhibition, Josip Restek 100 years
  • 2011. Seattle, WA, USA, Harrison Art Gallery, solo exhibition Josip Restek, Seattle Center, 22-23.10.
  • 2010. Jastrebarsko, City Museum and City Gallery, Solo exhibition Hommage à Josip Restek
  • 2003. Karlovac, Gallery “Vjekoslav Karas”, Retrospective exhibition Josip Restek 1915 – 1987. paintings, drawings and prints, 5. – 7. Zagreb, Gallery Klovićevi dvori, Retrospective exhibition Josip Restek 1915 – 1987. paintings, drawings and prints, 28.10. – 30.11.
  • 1998. Jastrebarsko, Jastrebarsko City Museum and Gallery, Solo exhibition Josip Restek / 1915 – 1987 (4 works-acquisitions of the newly opened gallery), 1. 5. – 18. 5.
  • 1996. Đakovo, Memorial Museum of Bishop JJ Strossmayer, Solo exhibition Josip Restek from the collection of Ivan Rabuzin, 2 – 3. Karlovac, ZILIK Gallery, Solo exhibition – Works by Josip Restek from the collection of Ivan Rabuzin / exhibition one, 28. 5 – 20. 6. Solo exhibition – Works by Josip Restek from the collection of Ivan Rabuzin / exhibition two, 10 – 12.
  • 1995. Zagreb, Ullrich Gallery, Solo exhibition Josip Restek 18.10 – 10.11.
  • 1994. Zagreb, Galerija Itea, Solo exhibition Hommage Josip Restek, 23 June – 20 July.
  • 1990. Karlovac, City Museum, Solo exhibition Josip Restek, 3. Zagreb, Novi Zagreb Library, Solo exhibition Josip Restek, 6.
  • 1988. Zagreb, Miroslav Kraljević Gallery, Solo exhibition Josip Restek, 5 – 25. 5.
  • 1987. Zagreb, Gallery Moša Pijade, solo exhibition Josip Restek, 3 – 30. 3.
  • 1986. Karlovac, Zorin dom, Solo exhibition Josip Restek, 17 – 26. 11.
  • 1985. Karlovac, City Museum, Solo exhibition Josip Restek, 11.
  • 1983. Zagreb, Studio Gallery Forum, Solo exhibition of graphics by Josip Restek, 19. 4. – 9. 5. Ivanić Grad, National University, Solo exhibition of paintings by Josip Restek, 6.
  • 1980. Zagreb, Prozori Gallery – SS Kranjčević Library, Solo exhibition Josip Restek – watercolors (30 watercolors), 13 – 28. 3.
  • 1978. Volavje near Jastrebarsko, Solo exhibition of permanent paintings and graphics by Josip Restek; opened 25. 6
  • 1977. Karlovac, Vjekoslav Karas Gallery, Solo exhibition of paintings and graphics by Josip Restek, 2 – 5 November.
  • 1970. Split, exhibition space of Matica Hrvatska, Solo exhibition of paintings and graphics RESTEK (15 works), 16. 1 – 16. 2. Šibenik, Šibenik City Museum, Solo exhibition of paintings and graphics by Josip Restek, 18 – 28. 2.
  • 1969. Zagreb, Salon ULUH, Solo exhibition Graphics – Restek Josip, 16 – 30. 10.
  • 1967. Gospić, JNA exhibition rooms, organized by the Lika Museum, Solo exhibition of works by Josip Restek (30 works), 9-18. 6.
  • 1963. Zagreb, Department of Graphic Arts, JAZU, Solo exhibition of Josip Restek, 2 – 3.
  • 1961. Rijeka, Small Gallery, Solo exhibition of prints by Josip Restek (45 works), 8 – 15. 9. Split, Art Gallery, Solo exhibition by Josip Restek (45 works), 14. 10. – 31. 10.
  • 1960. Zagreb, Art Pavilion, Solo exhibition of paintings and graphics by Restek Josip (45 works), 20 – 30. 3.
  • 1956. Paris, France, Galerie Simone Badenier, Solo exhibition of prints by Joseph Restek (lithographs, drypoints, aquatints; 30 works), 13 – 31. 1. Karlovac, City Gallery, Solo exhibition of paintings by Josip Restek, 6.
  • 1955. Zagreb, Salon ULUH, Solo exhibition of paintings by J. Restek (23 works), 19. 12. 1954 – 3. 1. 1955. Belgrade, Serbia, Art Gallery in Terazije, Solo exhibition of paintings and prints by Josip Restek (36 works), 1 – 10. 3. Zagreb, Salon ULUH, Solo exhibition of paintings by Josip Restek, 5. Belgrade, Serbia, Art Gallery, Solo exhibition of prints by Josip Restek, 10.
  • 1954. Zagreb, Mladost Bookstore, Solo exhibition of the woodcut map Seoski putem, 6.
  • 1952. Zagreb, Salon LIKUM, Solo exhibition of paintings by J. Restek (52 oils, tempera and prints), 1. – 15. 03.
  • 1946. Karlovac, Gallery of the City People’s Committee, Solo exhibition of paintings by Josip Restek (71 works), 17. – 30. 11.
  • 1943. Karlovac, Sokol Sports Hall, Solo exhibition of paintings by Josip Restek (51 works), 24 – 30. 10.