In memoriam: Ljiljana Kolešnik (1959–2026)

It is with deep regret and sadness that we share the news, felt throughout the scientific, academic, and cultural community – that Dr. Ljiljana Kolešnik, a distinguished scholar and long-standing member of the Institute of Art History, passed away on Friday, October 23, 2026.

With the passing of Ljiljana Kolešnik, the field of art history in Croatia has lost one of its most prominent scholars – a researcher distinguished by her innovative spirit and methodological boldness. Her scholarly body of work has left an enduring mark on the study of modern and contemporary art from the second half of the 20th century, as well as on visual culture and cultural and gender studies in Croatia, Central and Eastern Europe. She authored numerous scholarly papers and several books, conceived significant exhibition projects, edited influential academic volumes, and translated many key theoretical texts into Croatian.

After earning degrees in Art History and Comparative Literature, followed by a master’s degree in Museology, she completed her doctorate in 2000 at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, under the mentorship of Prof. Radovan Ivančević. Throughout her long tenure at the Institute, she led pivotal national and international initiatives – ranging from the landmark exhibition Socialism and Modernity: Art, Culture, Politics 1950–1974 to significant, epistemologically and methodologically innovative research projects, such as ARTNET and Glob_Exchange. She was a true pioneer of digital art history in Croatia and the region, tirelessly promoting the application of computational methods, digital tools, network analysis, and data visualization within the humanities. She conceived and, together with her collaborators, established an innovative information system called VANIS (Visual Artists Networks Information System). Furthermore, she launched the Regional Center for Art, Culture, and New Media at the Institute, challenging established interpretive models based on the center-periphery dichotomy and introducing perspectives rooted in the concept of a „horizontal“ art history – an approach that opened up new disciplinary horizons for generations of researchers.

Alongside her tireless research, Ljiljana Kolešnik made an exceptional contribution to higher education. She shared her expertise with students at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels at universities in Zagreb, Zadar, Split, and Sarajevo. She mentored and guided numerous younger colleagues, introducing them to contemporary theoretical practices, research methodologies, and the dynamic field of digital art history.

It is to be acknowledged her active role in shaping the professional community as a member of various prestigious international professional and scholarly associations, as well as the editorial boards of academic journals.

In an environment often inclined to follow canonical patterns, Ljiljana Kolešnik remained firmly herself – profoundly curious, unpredictable, and, in many areas, a step ahead of her own discipline. She will be remembered for leaving no one indifferent, and especially that she seized critical thought through her work, uncompromisingly teaching others to think critically.

On behalf of all staff at the Institute of Art History, we express our deepest condolences to her family, friends, colleagues, and students who had the honor of knowing her and having chance to collaborate with her. Her intellectual courage and critical spirit remain an enduring legacy of our Institute.