Exhibition: Castle Blossoms – Barba Štembergar Zupan and Niko Zupan
The exhibition Castle Blossoms by Barba Štembergar Zupan and Niko Zupan will, with ceramic flowers born of clay and fire, create a space of light, peace, and warmth.
Renowned Slovenian artists — a husband-and-wife duo — Barba Štembergar Zupan and Niko Zupan rank among the brightest stars of contemporary Slovenian ceramics. Their work reaches far beyond Slovenia’s borders, earning them recognition on international stages where they not only exhibit but also lecture and lead hands-on workshops.
Through Zavod V-oglje, which is part of the Geneva-based International Academy of Ceramics (IAC), they have been organizing an annual International Symposium of Artistic Ceramics in their home municipality of Šenčur for over two decades. Their long-term efforts have also given rise to Slovenia’s only permanent collection of artistic ceramics, and created a cultural and educational hub for modern ceramic art enthusiasts.
During this festive season, their creativity will bloom anew in the Castle Blossoms exhibition at Bled Castle. The castle’s upper courtyard will take on an entirely fresh look, shaped by fire, clay, color, and a generous dose of imagination. The couple’s ceramic winter flowers will gently unfurl their petals even in the coldest days, as though warmed by some quiet inner glow. Silent yet expressive, these blossoms carry a sense of eternity — flowers that never wilt, but instead illuminate the space, stir emotions, and spark a dialogue between art, place, and every curious visitor who meets them.
