Shin Gallery Showcases Self-Taught Serbian Artist Ilija Bašičević's Mythic Universe

Shin Gallery on the Lower East Side mounted a solo exhibition of Ilija "Bosilj" Bašičević (1895–1972), a Serbian peasant farmer who began painting at age 62 after surviving the Ustaša regime and Communist persecution. The show, titled "The World Called Ilijada," ran from March 5 to May 2, 2026, featuring works from the 1960s that blend Christian morality, Greek mythology, Byzantine iconography, and science fiction into a cohesive cosmology he called Ilijada. Bašičević's life story—captured by the Ustaša, escaped to Vienna, labeled a kulak under Communism—informs his fantastical paintings populated by humanoid figures, angelic beings, and hybrid creatures. Art historian Biljana Tomić traced his inspirations to Dostoevsky, the Old Testament, and the Ramayana. Works like "The Accursed Queen Jerina" (1962) and "Noah's Ark" (1967) exemplify his narrative style, while "Apocalyptic Riders" (1970) and "Three Apocalyptic Animals" (1964) hint at trauma from war. The gallery's accompanying essay provided a thorough biographical overview, enhancing appreciation of his masterful storytelling.