Sculpture Exhibition by Mateo Mornar
On its birthday, Gallery 33 has the pleasure of presenting the exhibition Sculpture by Mateo Mornar.
The exhibition will be open to visitors from March 4 to March 14, 2026.
Mateo Mornar was born in Croatia and emigrated to France with his family in 1946 at the age of ten. They settled in Paris, where the young boy loved spending time at the Louvre, especially in the sculpture galleries. At eighteen, he enrolled at École supérieure des arts modernes (ESAM), where he studied design, graphic design, interior decoration, and sculptural techniques. He graduated among the top of his class and joined a branch of the Publicis Group. For three years, he worked on the development of large-scale models exhibited at trade fairs, after which he transitioned to freelance work. For many years, he was active in publishing, graphic design, and interior decoration. In 1977, a professional assignment took him to the French Riviera, where he decided to settle permanently.
In 1995, Mornar chose to devote himself entirely to sculpture and began exhibiting his early bronze works depicting female figures along the French Riviera — in Cannes, Nice, and Monaco.
The selection of sculptures in the present exhibition reveals the sculptor’s profound reverence for women and the female form, which he values and respects endlessly. This admiration blossoms in his original creations through graceful curves imbued with tenderness and love. These works stand as an absolute tribute to Woman — an inexhaustible source of inspiration for the artist.
After an artistic period devoted to opulent curves, Mornar’s style evolved toward cubic forms, rough edges, raw textures, and sharp lines. The first sculptures of this period included a tiger, a bear, and a bull.
The artist also created a series of predators, including a hippopotamus measuring four meters in length and weighing over one ton — the largest ever made in bronze. Mornar has also sculpted a turtle and a rhinoceros, among the endangered species he sincerely wishes to protect and preserve.
In the current exhibition at Gallery 33, visitors can explore the cubic sculptures — rhinoceros, tiger, and elephant — dedicated to the protection of endangered species.
In 1997, he founded a sculpture school in Nice, driven by the desire to introduce people to the complex art of sculpture and to inspire them.
Mornar met the Grimaldi family in the late 1980s in Monaco. Prince Rainier III greatly appreciated the artist and regularly attended his exhibitions. An art lover and discerning collector, Prince Rainier III acquired several of Mornar’s works for his private collection.
In 2005, his son, Prince Albert II, succeeded him as Head of the Principality of Monaco. In 2006, he established the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, dedicated to environmental protection and sustainable development. Since 2009, Mornar has collaborated with the Foundation, donating a portion of the proceeds from his sales. The two men maintain a close relationship, united by a shared mission.
Despite his international recognition today, Mateo Mornar remains deeply committed to passing on his knowledge and continues to teach sculpture in his studio in Monaco, on Quai Antoine Ier. The courses are conducted at an exceptionally high professional level, guided by a spirit of joy and good humor — two essential qualities of this talented and warm-hearted artist.
In response to numerous inquiries from Monaco, France, Italy, and beyond, Mornar established a monthly program of creative workshops held in the Principality, in his own studio.
After more than fifty years of creating sculptures, drawings, art objects, and jewelry, Mateo Mornar now wishes to focus on designing high-rise buildings as works of art — powerful symbols rooted in the earth and rising toward the sky. These will be original living spaces, unlike anything realized before. Through these creations, Mornar hopes to bring a new dimension to humanity through a fresh vision and a new artistic approach to urban design worldwide. These architectural projects are intended for bold and energetic decision-makers who believe in the future and in new technologies. They are concrete architectural concepts, technically approved by engineers and architects for construction in accordance with best professional practices.
Vernissage (with invitations) 03.03.2026 г. (Tuesday) 6 p. m.
The exhibition will be open to visitors from 04.03 до 14.03.2026 г.
Location: Varna, 2A Gabrovo St.
Tel.: 0899878333
E-mail: contact@gallery33.art