Ikon Arts Foundation

Branka Frangeš Hegedušić (b. Zagreb 1906 – 1985) was a painter, illustrator, cartoonist for literary equipment and a graphic designer. She is the daughter of a famous Croatian sculptor Robert Frangeš Mihanovića and Digger Frangeš who founded the Association for the preservation of folk art and crafts. She graduated from the Academy in Zagreb in lacemaking and later studied interior design in Prague at Jansen. In Vienna, she in the manufactories for tapestry design. In 1930 she published a brochure on the improvement of Croatian domestic trades, which showcased her knowledge of lacemaking. She’s the first and only female member of the artistic group Zemlja (Earth). She exhibited her social themed drawings with the group from 1934 to 1935. Her drawing style was expressionistic, and she often dealt with mural paintings and works in pastel. She also largely contributed in education within the applied arts and promoted folk art, campaigned for the preservation of cultural heritage and national identity and wrote many professional articles. She wrote for many Croatian newspapers including Obzor, Jutarnji List, and Zadrugar. She was the director of the Academy of Applied Arts in Zagreb where she also founded a program for textile and costume design. In 1950, she participated in the foundation of ULUPUH (Croatian Association of Applied Arts) in Zagreb.

Portrait of the Artist; from the book by Marina Baričević: Branka Frangeš Hegedušić; Branka Hegedušić.

Illustration – From 1934th to 1935th exhibited with a group of drawings under the pseudonym of Branko Kristijanovic from the exhibition of the artistic group Earth.

Working in the studio; from the book by Marina Baričević, Branka Frangeš Hegedušić, ( Zagreb : ULUPUH 2007 )

Source: Dizajnerice by Oaza Collective