The Centre for Performing and Visual Arts on Lower Fayetteville Road will hold a public opening of the artwork of international artist Bruno Zupan this Sunday at 2 p.m.

The exhibit of Zupan’s work – which will be on display through March 1 – features 48 pieces from the renowned, Slovenia-born artist and 10 from his daughter, Natasha Zupan.

The Bank of Coweta and the Centre for Performing and Visual Arts is presenting the three-week show, on display in the Centre’s main gallery. For more information call 770-254-ARTS (2787).

Zupan will attend the Sunday opening, “so people will have a chance to meet him, and he will be available for book signings,” said Don Nixon, Fine Arts Director for Coweta County Schools.

“We are so fortunate to be able to host the Zupans and feature his and Mrs. Zupan’s work,” said Nixon. “The Bank of Coweta has been tremendously generous to provide this opportunity for our students and our community.”

Born in Slovenia, Zupan studied art in Paris before coming to New York in 1964. Coming to America with little but his expansive talent, Zupan became a successful artist. Zupan's daughter, Natasha, also is an artist and her work will be featured at the local exhibit along with that of her father.

Zupan married Georgia native Jane Ritchie and the couple divide their time between Malorca, Paris, Venice, New York and Jane Zupan's hometown of Columbus. The nature and settings of those places define Zupan’s paintings, and can transport a viewer to the place and the mood of Zupan as he captured it, aid Nixon.

“Art is really supposed to take you somewhere, and there is no question Bruno Zupan’s art takes you on a journey,” said Nixon. “These are landscapes from the places he lives and he has a way of painting this story and pulling you in to them. It’s pretty amazing.”

Zupan's exhibit follows last year's Centre exhibit of internationally-known artist Francoise Gilot. Nixon said that Zupan is "on the same level" as Gilot, and that he hopes to bring an artist of top caliber to the center early each year.

The Centre hosted one of only three of Gilot’s exhibits last year, and Nixon recently met with Gilot to discuss her return to Newnan. “Coweta County welcomed her so warmly that she would love to return, and we would love to have her back,” said Nixon.

Like Gilot, Zupan will hold lectures and workshops with Coweta art students, and will attend a dinner with local art faculty during which he will discuss his work and techniques.

The show and visit would not be possible without the Bank of Coweta’s underwriting, just as BB&T of Newnan hosted Gilot last year. The banks see the value of bringing the art and the artist to local audiences and, most of all, to local students.

“Bank of Coweta’s sponsorship allows us to fulfill our mission as a classroom for our students, above all, but also for our whole community,’ said Nixon.

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