The reconstruction of the gallery dedicated to renowned Serbian painter Milena Pavlović Barili in her hometown of Požarevac is expected to be completed by January 2027, according to officials overseeing the project, which is considered one of the most significant cultural investments currently underway in the city. The initiative aims to modernize the gallery complex and create improved conditions for the preservation and presentation of the legacy of one of Serbia’s most influential artists of the first half of the twentieth century.
The project includes the comprehensive reconstruction and expansion of the existing gallery complex, with plans to develop new exhibition facilities that will meet contemporary museum standards. The upgraded gallery will enable improved conservation and display of Milena Pavlović Barili’s artistic heritage while also offering modern cultural and educational spaces intended to enrich the institution’s activities and attract a wider audience.
The reconstruction will be implemented in several phases. The first stage involves constructing a new building designed to host the permanent exhibition of the artist’s works, equipped with modern museum infrastructure. The second stage includes demolishing the current exhibition space and constructing a new facility intended for thematic exhibitions, administrative offices, and the School of Painting associated with the gallery. The final phase foresees the restoration and adaptation of the historic core of the complex, including the old house with the memorial room dedicated to the artist. Milena Pavlović Barili’s birth house itself will not be included in the reconstruction works.
The project represents a major cultural investment valued at approximately 380 million dinars, excluding VAT, and forms part of a broader national development initiative linked to preparations for EXPO 2027 in Belgrade. Authorities emphasize that the renewed gallery will serve as a modern and dignified home for the artistic legacy of Pavlović Barili, whose work left a lasting mark on both Serbian and European art between the two world wars.
Born in Požarevac in 1909, Milena Pavlović Barili became one of the most prominent figures of European avant-garde art in the interwar period. During her relatively short life she studied and worked in major cultural centers such as Munich, Rome and Paris, and later continued her career in the United States, where she died in 1945. In addition to painting, she was active in poetry, illustration and design, contributing to leading fashion and cultural publications of her time. Today, her work is widely regarded as a vital part of Serbia’s cultural heritage and an important bridge between the country’s artistic tradition and the broader European and global art scene.
Once completed, the reconstructed gallery is expected to significantly enhance the cultural profile of Požarevac and provide a modern institution capable of preserving and presenting the rich artistic legacy of Milena Pavlović Barili to both domestic and international audiences.
