The National Gallery of Macedonia would like to inform you about the opening of the group exhibition “Acquisitions and Donations (2014-2024)” on the 19th of June 2025 (Thursday) at the Chifte Hammam. As the title suggests, this project is about the pieces purchased for and gifted to the collection of the National Gallery in a 10-year period and it is the first exhibition of this type within the activities of the Gallery. The presentation of the acquisitions and donations is regular practice in museums around the world which provides greater visibility of the collections, introduction of the public with the pieces and the authors which, by all means, makes the presentation educational.

One of the needs for realization of such a project and presentation type is included in the basis of the vision and mission of the museum activities – collecting, keeping, research, protection, presentation, and publication of the museum material. Museums as protectors of cultural heritage of the pieces acquired by acquisitions and received as gifts by the authors, are also a reflection of the current artistic practice and it emphasizes the priorities and significance of the collections through, we hope, permanent acquisitions by the state funds and selection by professionals. Due to the volume of works acquired in the last 10 years, the exhibition will present a select selection of works.

As part of this selection, a separate section of this selection shall present over 30 paintings from the heritage of Lazar Lichenoski, who has left a significant legacy, movable and immovable. Since 2015, according to the wishes of his wife, Zoe, the National Gallery receives the ownership of the house of Lazar Lichenoski (build in 1961, designed by the famous Macedonian architect, Slavko Brezovski), and it is under conservation and restauration works. Also, a significant Lichenoski’s heritage of 122 paintings, 37 mosaics and 5 sgraffiti by Lichenoski, as well as 77 pieces by other authors, 21 icons (18th – 19th century), as well as great ethnological, library and archive material was handed to the National Gallery.

The exhibition is curated by Maja Chankulovska – Mihajlovska, senior curator. Assistant of the project is Vladimir Tanevski, MA, curator. The exhibition shall be open until 31st of July 2025.