About the author
Photo: Nino Željko Jelenski, 2021.
Janko Belaj (born 1965 in Ptuj, Slovenia) is an independent fine art photographer, graphic designer and web developer living and working in Zagreb, Croatia. He has been involved in photography since early youth, with his first works published in the late 1970s. Since then, his photographs have appeared in numerous exhibitions, catalogues and monographs in the fields of art history and cultural heritage (Museum of Arts and Crafts Zagreb, Muzejski prostor, Mimara Museum, National Gallery in Ljubljana, Glyptotheque of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Museum of Contemporary Art Zagreb, among others).
He has collaborated with a wide range of publishers, advertising agencies and design studios (X-Press, Školska knjiga, Kult, DNA, Grey, Unex, CWH, Hand Design, McCann, among others), as well as cultural and academic institutions (Institute of Art History, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb, IARH, IEF, OFM, DARIAH) and various production and retail companies.
In 1998, he founded Croatia’s first web portal dedicated to photography – fotozine.org – which has grown over the years into one of the central meeting points and knowledge-sharing platforms of the Croatian photographic community.
He has exhibited widely in Croatia and abroad, in both group and solo exhibitions. Among his notable bodies of work are the Meals and Drinks. Before., Lightcaptured, Suicidal Mr. Bones and My Hat, as well as his long-term work on the photographic documentation and digital reconstruction of the oeuvre of the Baroque painter Ivan Krstitelj Ranger.
He is a member of the ULUPUH’s Department of Photography (president of the section since 2016), the Croatian Freelance Artists’ Association (HZSU), Kadar 36, and Autorski studio.
Solo Exhibitions
- 2025. What I Do When I Do Nothing, Gallery Kraluš
- 2020. Lightcaptured third: Wide Vistas, Gallery Kraluš
- 2019. Selfless Landscapes, Public Library Vlado Gotovac
- 2017. 790 Years / Požega in the Eye, Poežega City Museum
- 2016. Suicidal Mr. Bones, Gallery ULUPUH
- 2015. My Hat, Gallery Blackbox
- 2015. My Hat, Koprivnica City Museum
- 2014. Lightcaptured [Second], Pub Gallery Cinkuš
- 2013. Mealsc and Drinks. Before., Photo Gallery Siscia Obscura
- 2013. Mealsc and Drinks. Before., Pub Gallery Cinkuš
- 2007. Lightcaptured, City Library Solin
- 2006. Lightcaptured, Gallery Santa Maria in Punta
- 2006. The Visual Message of Ivan Krstitelj Ranger , Ivan Krstitelj Ranger Gallery
- 2004. Czvet Szveteh by Ivan Krstitelj Ranger , Ivan Krstitelj Ranger Gallery
- 2003. Open Heavens by Ivan Krstitelj Ranger , Ivan Krstitelj Ranger Gallery
Group Exhibitions
- 2025. Interweaving: Pleter (juried exhibition of ULUPUH members), Gallery ULUPUH
- 2025. National Heritage – The Vučedol Dove (juried biennial exhibition of ULUPUH members), Gallery AMZ
- 2025. Like the Old Masters (juried exhibition of ULUPUH’s Photography Section), Gallery Permanenta
- 2024. ATD Dialogues: Photo Archive feat. Museum of Photography / Triggers, Museum of Contemporary Art (MSU)
- 2024. Money and Art (invitational group exhibition of ULUPUH members; curatorial project by Elizabeta Wagner), Art Gallery of the City Museum of Križevci
- 2024. Recycled (juried exhibition of ULUPUH members), Gallery ULUPUH
- 2024. Vizura 2024 // Escapism (juried biennial exhibition of ULUPUH’s Photography Section), Gallery ULUPUH
- 2024. Apartment (juried exhibition of ULUPUH members), Gallery ULUPUH
- 2023. National Heritage: Licitar (juried biennial exhibition of ULUPUH members), Gallery ULUPUH
- 2023. ProArt 2 (ProART 2023) (juried biennial exhibition of ULUPUH’s Photography Section), Gallery ULUPUH
- 2022. Light & Shadows (juried exhibition of ULUPUH’s Photography Section), Zrinski Art Festival, Treasury of Međimurje
- 2022. Vizura 2022 // Reboot (juried biennial exhibition of ULUPUH’s Photography Section), Gallery ULUPUH
- 2022. Art Eco / Green Wheel of Balance (juried exhibition of ULUPUH members), Gallery ULUPUH
- 2021. Dante 700: “Can There Be Good in Hell?” (juried thematic exhibition marking the anniversary of Dante’s death; City Museum of Križevci in cooperation with the Academy of Fine Arts, University of Zagreb), Art Gallery of the City Museum of Križevci
- 2021. All Faces of Croatia (juried group exhibition), Cultural Centre
- 2021. ProART 2021 (juried biennial exhibition of ULUPUH’s Photography Section), Gallery ULUPUH
- 2021. Self-Portrait (juried exhibition of ULUPUH’s Photography Section), Zrinski Art Festival, Scheier Hall
- 2021. Water 2021 (juried exhibition of ULUPUH’s Photography Section), Gallery AMZ
- 2020. Art Eco / Forest (juried exhibition of ULUPUH members), Gallery ULUPUH
- 2020. Vizura 2020 // The Time of Extremes (juried biennial exhibition of ULUPUH’s Photography Section), Gallery ULUPUH
- 2020. Water 2020 (juried exhibition of ULUPUH’s Photography Section), Gallery Modulor
- 2020. Industrial Heritage of Sisak ((Abadžić, Arbutina, Belaj, Matošević)), Holland House
- 2019. Industrial Heritage of Sisak ((Abadžić, Arbutina, Belaj, Matošević)), European Economic and Social Committee / Comité Économique Et Social Européen
- 2019. KOM/ART 2019 – Art as Desired (juried biennial exhibition of ULUPUH’s Photography Section), Faculty of Graphic Arts, University of Zagreb
- 2019. Industrial Heritage of Sisak ((Abadžić, Arbutina, Belaj, Matošević)), Museum of the City of Rijeka
- 2019. Water 2019 (juried exhibition of ULUPUH’s Photography Section), Gallery ULUPUH
- 2018. Water 2018 (juried exhibition of ULUPUH’s Photography Section), Gallery Crveno i Crno
- 2018. Aktualno 6: Together (juried biennial exhibition of ULUPUH’s Photography Section), Mimara Museum
- 2017. Applied — Strictly Controlled Conditions (juried biennial exhibition of ULUPUH’s Photography Section), Gallery ULUPUH
- 2017. Industrial Heritage of Sisak ((Abadžić, Arbutina, Belaj, Matošević)), Karlovac City Museum
- 2017. Hearts of Istria ((Belaj, Hančić, Osrečak, Perić)), Photo-Art Gallery Batana
- 2017. Water 2017 (juried exhibition of ULUPUH’s Photography Section), “Josip Račić” Studio of the Modern Gallery
- 2016. Zenge – 25 Steps (juried exhibition of ULUPUH’s Photography Section), Vukovar City Museum
- 2016. Water 2016 (juried exhibition of ULUPUH’s Photography Section), “Josip Račić” Studio of the Modern Gallery
- 2016. Industrial Heritage of Sisak ((Abadžić, Arbutina, Belaj, Matošević)), Archaeological Museum Osijek
- 2016. Actual 5: Intimately (juried biennial exhibition of ULUPUH’s Photography Section), Mimara Museum
- 2016. 20th Anniversary of the Protests Against the Shutdown of Radio 101 ((Belaj, Kalogjera, Mavar, Sirotić)), Museum of Contemporary Art (MSU)
- 2015. KOM/ART (juried biennial exhibition of ULUPUH’s Photography Section), Gallery ULUPUH
- 2015. Industrial Heritage of Sisak ((Abadžić, Arbutina, Belaj, Matošević)), Photo Gallery Siscia Obscura
- 2014. Camera Obscura (juried exhibition of ULUPUH’s Photography Section), Gallery ULUPUH
- 2013. Water 2013 (juried exhibition of ULUPUH’s Photography Section), Croatian Post Gallery
- 2012. Actual 3: In the World of Parallel Realities (juried biennial exhibition of ULUPUH’s Photography Section), Labin Public Museum
- 2012. Actual 3: In the World of Parallel Realities (juried biennial exhibition of ULUPUH’s Photography Section), Photo-Art Gallery Batana
- 2012. Actual 3: In the World of Parallel Realities (juried biennial exhibition of ULUPUH’s Photography Section), Mimara Museum
- 2010. Actual 2+60 (juried biennial exhibition of ULUPUH’s Photography Section), Labin Public Museum
- 2010. Actual 2+60 (juried biennial exhibition of ULUPUH’s Photography Section), Photo-Art Gallery Batana
- 2010. Actual 2+60 (juried biennial exhibition of ULUPUH’s Photography Section), Mimara Museum
- 2004. Zagreb Salon, Fotoklub Zagreb Gallery
- 1995. Heritage in the Contemporary (juried exhibition of ULUPUH’s Textile Design Section), Mimara Museum
- 1986. Zagreb Salon, Fotoklub Zagreb Gallery
Independent humanitarian actions (and virtual exhibitions)
- 2021. Auction to support a family who lost their home in the earthquake
- 2014. Auction to support flood victims in Croatia, Bosnia and Serbia
Art projects and Works in Public spaces
- 2025. ULUPUH’s Fashion 50 (50th anniversary of ULUPUH’s Clothing Design Section – preparation and design of a video presentation based on the Section’s archival materials), Gallery ULUPUH
- 2025. Conceptual Photography: The Idea of Creation or the Idea of Survival (lecture at “Photo Tuesday”, Foto klub Split (on the author’s process of developing conceptual exhibitions))
- 2024. A staged evocation of Tošo Dabac’s darkroom and part of his studio (@ATD DIALOGUES: PHOTO ARCHIVE FEAT. MUSEUM OF PHOTOGRAPHY / TRIGGERS), Museum of Contemporary Art (MSU)
- 2014. Photodays Rovinj – Fotozine video presentation
- 2014. Maksimir, Zagreb – Fotozine annual exhibition
- 2014. Makarska – Biokovo: Foto Ars Adrion
- 2013. Zagreb – Fotozine 15th anniversary exhibition
- 2012. Mukinje (Plitvice Lakes) – Foto Ars Japodija
- 2012. Iva (Nova Gradiška) – Fotozine annual exhibition
- 2011. Rakovica (Plitvice Lakes) – Fotozine annual exhibition
- 2011. Batana (Rovinj) – Fotozine exhibition, Photo-Art Gallery Batana
- 2011. Karanac (Baranja) – Foto Ars Danubia II
- 2010. Photodays Rovinj – Fotozine exhibition
- 2010. Erdut – Foto Ars Danubia
- 2009. Zagreb – Fotozine annual exhibition
- 2008. Zagreb – Fotozine 10th anniversary exhibition
- 2007. More works at the Monographic Exhibition of Antun Lerchinger by Dr. Anica Cevc, National Gallery of Slovenia
- 2005. Photographs featured on a City Center Varteks tram (public campaign)
- 2002. Dessert photography for Siemens corporate catering / hospitality
- 2000. Selected works included in the exhibition Mir i Dobro (Artistic and cultural heritage of the Croatian Franciscan Province of Sts. Cyril and Methodius), Klovićevi dvori Gallery
- 1999. Dawn of 21st Century (Participation in the international monograph project)
- 1991. Zagrebački kandelabri (Exhibition and catalog equipment by Igor Maroević), Gallery Modulor