This October, Croatia’s capital becomes a stage for one of its most iconic cultural events: the 60th Zagreb Salon. Established in 1965, the Salon is among the country’s longest-running and most influential showcases of contemporary art, and this anniversary edition promises to be its boldest yet.
Organized by the Croatian Association of Artists (HDLU), the Salon brings together a constellation of exhibitions, installations, performances, and interventions across the city. Curated by KUĆĆA, a rising Zagreb-based collective (Jurica Mlinarec, Klara Petrović, and Luja Šimunović), this year’s edition is titled “Choreography for the Finish Line”—a concept that explores risk, play, and the uncertainties of modern life in an age of algorithms and constant change.
A Citywide Playground for Contemporary Art
Unlike previous editions, the 60th Zagreb Salon steps outside the traditional gallery format. With more than 20 locations spread throughout the city—from galleries and institutions to public spaces and even the trams—the entire urban fabric becomes part of the exhibition. Around two-thirds of the works have been created specifically for this occasion, underscoring the Salon’s role as a platform for experimentation.The program features over 25 projects, including group exhibitions, lectures, sound performances, and public interventions, offering locals and visitors alike a chance to experience art in unexpected ways. The range of scale is striking: from a subtle action that goes unnoticed during a tram ride to monumental works wrapping around the architectural landmark of the Meštrović Pavilion.
Highlights of the 60th Edition
The curatorial vision begins with the year 2000, revisiting the “Y2K scare” as a metaphor for our ongoing attempts to balance risks in a hyper-connected, gamified world. Artists from different generations present perspectives on what sociologists call the “risk society,” where uncertainty is both a challenge and a creative force.Some standout projects include:
Nora Turato’s Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!! – A monumental text-based intervention on the façade of the Meštrović Pavilion, marking the largest work the acclaimed performance and visual artist has created in Europe.Silvio Vujičić’s MetaAnswer – An interactive installation merging myth and pop culture, where visitors encounter the wisdom of a modern-day Pythia embodied by adult industry activist John Thomas.
Maja Čule & Katy Pyle’s I Am Your Sea Cucumber – A playful, queer reimagining of a folkloric sea creature, staged across karaoke sets and film, celebrating resilience and transformation.
Tea Stražičić’s Do Humans Dream of Electric Dogs? – A brand-new installation examining human-dog relationships in a world of technological mediation and synthetic organisms.
Alongside these works, group exhibitions tackle themes as diverse as the emotional impact of video games on teenagers, patriarchal narratives embedded in maritime mythology, and the often-overlooked sonic imprints of military power.
Beyond the White Cube
The Salon is not limited to exhibitions. Visitors can experience:A mini-festival in the yard of the Academy of Fine Arts, curated by Nina Kurtela, celebrating the work of Croatian visual artist and actress Jagoda Kaloper.
Public WiFi-powered sound performances transforming ordinary spaces into immersive soundscapes.
A lecture by McKenzie Wark, influential author of A Hacker Manifesto and Gamer Theory.
A series of performances and playful interventions examining everything from turbofolk music to entrepreneurial strategies in the art world.
A Legacy of Art in Motion
Since its founding, the Zagreb Salon has alternated between disciplines—visual arts, architecture, applied arts, and design—every three years, making it a unique and dynamic platform. For six decades, it has mapped the changing landscape of Croatian and international art while creating a meeting point for experimentation and dialogue.This anniversary edition, under KUĆĆA’s fresh curatorial lens, not only celebrates that legacy but also looks forward, giving voice to a new generation of regional artists and bringing Zagreb’s art scene closer to global audiences.
When and Where:
Dates: October 7 – 31
Main Venues: Oktogon (National Museum of Modern Art), SKD Prosvjeta Gallery, and multiple public locations around Zagreb.
For travelers and culture lovers, the 60th Zagreb Salon is more than an art exhibition—it’s a month-long journey through the city itself. Whether you stumble upon an installation in a tram, attend a lecture in a courtyard, or stand before a monumental façade transformed into a work of art, you’ll be part of an experience that blends tradition with experimentation, play with risk, and Zagreb with the world.
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