# Adolf Benca

Adolf Benca (born 16 May 1959) is an American painter of Slovakian origin.

## Early life and beginnings

Benca was born on 16 May 1959, in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia. He was the older of two children, the younger being his sister Lubica. His family immigrated to the United States when he was ten years old, in 1969. From 1969 to 1973 he attended the Elementary Private School in Chicago. He attended Grayslake High School in Illinois between 1973 and 1977.
He became interested in art very early in his life, attending several art schools in Chicago while he was an elementary student.
In 1966, while he was still living in Czechoslovakia, he was already illustrating children's books. In 1968, a year prior to his family emigrating from Czechoslovakia, because of Russian occupation of Bratislava, his family moved to Vienna, where young Benca became interested in philosophy and started painting mythological themes and subjects. He participated in a few young artist programs in 1970 and 1975.

## Studies

Adolf Benca studied and graduated from several universities. From 1977 to 1981 he studied at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, art school in New York, where he received his B.F.A. (Bachelor of Fine Arts) degree. For the next four years (1982–1985) he studied at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, graduating at 1987, receiving the title of Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.). From 1987 to 1988 he studied the human anatomy at the University of Bologna in Italy where he received the title "Doctor honoris causa" (Dr.h.c.) in the area of anatomy. At University Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland he received the title "Doctor honoris causa" in the area of philosophy.

## Career

As he was receiving his titles and studied, Benca continued to paint and exhibit his works in many galleries around the world, many of his paintings ending up in private collections.
In 1985 he became a member of the Swizzero di Roma.
In 1987 he became a member of the French Academy in Rome.
In 1988 he became a member of the American Academy in Rome.
In 1994 he became a member of the Swedish Institute in Rome.
In 2000 he became a member of the Academy of Arts in Berlin.
After "the Fall of the Iron Curtain" he decided to continue his career in Central and Eastern Europe.
In 2002 he started his work in Prague, and was awarded the award of the "Masaryk Academy".
On the barges under "Floating Galleries" he is exhibiting most of his artwork created from 2000 to 2013.
In 2012 Adolf Benca and the "Bratislava's ship company" a.d. (Bratislavská lodná spoločnosť a. s ) have founded the company "Adolf Benca Académia s.r.o.".
In 2013 this project was internationally accepted at "Brussels Symposium" EBU (European Barge Union).
The partner in realization of this international project is the "European Fine Art Fair".
His works can be found all over the world, in private collections, as well as exhibits at museums, such as "Metropolitan Museum" and "Museum of Modern Art" in New York.

### World art institutions exhibiting the artwork of Adolf Benca

* Institution
* Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY – MoMA
* Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
* National Art Gallery, Washington, D.C.
* Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, The University of Oklahoma
* High Museum of Art Atlanta
* Musei Vatikani, Vatikan, Rome
* Williams College Museum of Art, Williamstown, Massachusetts
* Arkansas Arts Center Foundation Collection, Little Rock, Arkansas
* Henry Art Gallery at the University of Washington, Seattle
* Contemporary Art Museum, Tel Aviv
* Art Museum, Hong Kong
* Floating Galleries of the Slovakia, Bratislava
* National Gallery of the Slovakia, Bratislava

### Standalone exhibitions

| Year | Exhibition |
| Current events: December 2016 - February 2017 | Exhibition Stigma, Nis, Serbia, dedicated to the reformer of Christianity Constantine the Great and launching the petition for conciliation of the Catholic and Orthodox Church. |
| 2013–2014 | Permanent Installation, Danube, "Fleeces of Aha", Bratislava, Slovakia |
| 2005 | Michalelsa Brana Galleria, Bratislava, Paintings on Iraq |
| 2003 | International Kommerz Bank Gallery, Bratislava |
| May 2001 | Pantheon of Arts & Sciences, Kulturnom Dome, Budapest |
| November 2000 | UNESCO-NWICO Austria-Slovakia New World Information Exhibition Foundation |
| November 2000 | Pantheon of Arts & Sciences, Kulturnom Dome, Stupava, Slovakia |
| November 2000 | Aesthetic Gallery, House of Culture, Stupava, Slovakia |
| September 2000 | Slovak Exhibition, Cantos, Washington, DC |
| January 2000 | Seton Hall University School of Law, Portraits, History of Law |
| February 1999 | United Nations, Work from the Sudan |
| October 1998 | Jazz Drawings, New York City |
| Sept/October 1998 | Inkubus Gallery, Miami, Florida, Paintings, "Birth of Continents" |
| May/July 1998 | Inkubus Gallery, Miami, Florida, Drawings, "Encyclopedia" |
| April 1998 | Inkubus Gallery, Miami, Florida, Tempera Paintings |
| March 1998 | Inkubus Gallery, Miami, Florida, Drawings |
| February 1998 | Inkubus Gallery, Miami, Florida, Paintings |
| February 1998 | Seton Hall University School of Law, Jazz Drawings |
| November 1997 | Inkubus Gallery, Miami, Florida, Tempera Paintings |
| August/Sept 1997 | Inkubus Gallery, Miami, Florida, Drawings |
| May 1997 | Inkubus Gallery, Miami, Florida, Paintings |
| April 1997 | Embassy of Slovakia, Washington, D.C. |
| October 1996 | Seton Hall University School of Law, Medical Portrait Drawings |
| May 1996 | Baldachino Gallery, New York City |
| January 1996 | M-13 Gallery, New York |
| May 1994 | Sterling Gallery, Chicago, Illinois |
| May 1993 | Sterling Gallery, Chicago, Illinois |
| December 1992 | M-13 Gallery, New York |
| September 1991 | M-13 Gallery |
| 1988 | Galerie LcCargo/Galerie Losange, Grenoble |
| 1988 | Twining Gallery, New York |
| 1988 | ARTE FIERE, Bologna |
| 1987 | Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site, Cornish, NH |
| 1986 | Twining Gallery, New York |
| 1985 | Gallery Jean-Yves Noblet, Paris |
| 1985 | Twining Gallery, New York |
| 1984 | Twining Gallery, New York |
| 1983 | Paul Olsen Gallery, New York |
| 1983 | Twining Gallery, New York |
| 1982 | Alexander Carlson Gallery, New York |
| 1981 | Arthur A. Houghton Gallery, The Cooper Union, New York |

### Group exhibitions

| Year | Exhibition |
| 2014 | Matica Slovenska, "Cultural Revolutions", Martin, Slovakia |
| October 1998 | United Nations, Artists From Slovakia |
| June 1996 | Arkansas Arts Center Foundation Collection |
| February 1995 | Achim Moeller Fine Art, New York |
| September 1995 | Achim Moeller Fine Art, Salon des Beaux Arts, Paris |
| May 1994 | Kennesaw State College, Marietta, Georgia |
| May 1992 | Gallery Three Zero, New York, AMFAR benefit |
| January 1992 | The Cooper Union, "Good Work" by recent alumni |
| 1991 | Stuart Levy Gallery, New York |
| 1991 | Twining Gallery, New York, Drawings on War |
| 1991 | M-13 Gallery, New York |
| 1990 | M-13 Gallery, New York |
| 1990 | Stuart Levy Gallery, New York |
| 1990 | Achim Moeller Fine Art, New York |
| 1989 | Achim Moeller Fine Art, New York |
| 1988 | Czechoslovak Society of Arts & Sciences, Washington, D.C. |
| 1988 | Queens Museum, New York |
| 1988 | Twining Gallery, New York |
| 1986 | Gallery Two Nine One, Atlanta |
| 1986 | Georgia Museum of Art, Athens |
| 1986 | Twining Gallery, New York |
| 1986 | The Ewing Gallery of Art & Architecture, University of Tennessee |
| 1985 | Canadian Art Galleries, Calgary |
| 1985 | Twining Gallery, New York |
| 1984 | Brenda Kroos Gallery, Columbus, Ohio |
| 1984 | Deborah Sharpe Gallery, New York |
| 1984 | Czechoslovak Society of Arts & Sciences, Montreal |
| 1983 | Paul Olsen Gallery, New York |
| 1982 | Paul Olsen Gallery, New York |
| 1981 | Allan Stone Gallery, New York |
| 1981 | Alexander Carlson Gallery |

### Works

In his repertoire of works, some of the most notable ones are:
* “Rabbinic dispute“ – 120 × 200 cm, technique: oil and acrylic on canvas, created in 2012. It is currently located in the Floating galleries.
* “Nurse“ – 180 × 180 cm, technique: acrylic on canvas created in 2004. Currently located in the Floating galleries.
* “Spanish influenza" – 196 × 281 cm, technique: acrylic on canvas, created in 2003. In the Floating gallery Tabor.
* “Dialogues of the Dead Series: Triptych 1, Triptych 2, Triptych 3“ – 300 × 400 cm (each of 3 parts), technique: acrylic on carpet created in 2003. At Adolf Benca Academy Ltd.
* “Winner on the cross“ – 300 × 200 cm, technique: acrylic, an industrial paint and tar on the carpet, created in 2003. Located at the Floating galleries.
* “She” – 200 × 300 cm, technique: acrylic, an industrial paint and tar on the carpet, created in 2003. Located at the Floating galleries.
* "The Way to the Northwest" – a collection of 16 paintings; various dimensions; painting technique: acrylic on wood. This collection was exhibited at the European Parliament in Brussels. In the private property of the collectors.
* Limited edition "Stigma 54“ – contains 54 art works that characterize and represent „Stigma“ (seal) which in Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece was used to stigmatize slaves, criminals, prostitutes, traitors and mentally ill people. The works have various dimensions: height 11,81 – 17,72 inches x width 17,72 – 25,59 inches; painting technique: acrylic on wood, 2012. Owned by various members of the Alliance of Adolf Benca Academy. These art works could afford only the privileged collectors all over the world.
The artworks that have been exhibited in the European Parliament since the first of July 2016 regarding the chairmanship of the Slovak Republic in European Union:
* “€=mc2” (Portrait of Otto von Habsburg) – 175 × 141 cm, oil on canvas, created in 2011. As of July 2016 located at the European Union Parliament.
* “Waterways – Northwest Passage, No.1” – 57 × 149 cm, oil on canvas, created in 2012. As of July 2016 located at the European Union Parliament.
* “Waterways – Northwest Passage, No.7” – 55 × 112 cm, oil on canvas, created in 2009. As of July 2016 located at the European Union Parliament.
* “Waterways – Northwest Passage, No.13” – 50 × 140 cm, oil on canvas, created in 2012. As of July 2016 located at the European Union Parliament.
* “Waterways – Northwest Passage, No.14” – 82 × 102 cm, oil on canvas, created in 2012. As of July 2016 located at the European Union Parliament.