Ibrahim Kodra
Ibrahim Likmetaj Kodra (22 April 1918 – 7 February 2006) was an Albanian painter. Biography. Kodra was born in Ishëm (Ishmi), Albania, son of Murat and Xhixhe. His mother died when he was young, and he did not receive adequate treatment from his stepmother. His father was working in the Commercial Marine. Ibrahim took art classes from Odhise Paskali during 1929, focusing on sport as well. Kodra practiced discus and hammer throw, without pretending any professional career in sport, since those disciplines were not even present in Albania at that time. While taking drawing classes, one of his drawings  would come into the focus of Queen Geraldine. This would change his course of life, and later it would be speculated that he was friend of Prince Tati and part of the royal circle, which was not true, though it never seriously bothered the artist. In 1938, he went to Italy to study fine arts supported by a scholarship from the Albanian Kingdom, and there he won a second scholarship from the Italian government as an emerging talent with the intervention of Jacomoni, and went to study in Milan in the Academy of Fine Arts of Brera. In 1944 he  opened his first workshop in Milan; in 1948 he opened a personal and group exposition in the "Art Club" in Rome, where he met and become friend of Pablo Picasso, which often will be contested on artistic reflections. In 1950 he painted frescos in the most important museums and buildings of Milan. Kodra then opened an exposition with Picasso, Henri Matisse, Amedeo Modigliani, Georges Rouault, Dufy and others in the Mostra del Disegno in Chiavari (Italy). He had many other personal expos all around the world, including: His works are in the Museum of Vatican, in the Chamber of Deputies  (House of Representatives) of the Italian Parliament in Rome, in exclusive private collections all around the world. In 1996 he won the "Honor of the Nation" award from Albania (), and in 1997, shortly after painting Albania Fantastica he was appointed honorary consul and he was given a diplomatic passport to the Republic of Albania. He died in Milan in 2006. Kodra was buried in front of Ishëm Castle according to his will to be buried there. His house in Milan is converted in a museum, with the initiative of Fatos Fasliu, president of "Ibrahim Kodra Foundation" in Milan. In February  2010, a museum dedicated to his work was opened in Melide, Lugano, with the support of Albanian entrepreneur Behgjet Pacolli and the "Ibrahim Kodra" Foundation (Fondazione per i Ragazzi del mondo di Ibrahim Kodra), a Swiss cultural organization supporting emerging art talents and promoting Kodra's work. Museum. Kodra works are kept in the Museum of the Vatican, in the Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Parliament, in the Kosova National Art Gallery of Pristina, in the collection of art of the City of Milan, in the art gallery of the basilica santuario di Santa Maria de Finibus Terrae and  of Santa Maria di Leuca.