100 Years of Albania’s “Picasso” – Ibrahim Kodra

Renowned Albanian artist Ibrahim Kodra was born 100 years ago, on 22 April 1908, in Ishem, Durres. Kodra completed secondary schooling from 1928-1932 at the “Harry Fultz” technical school in the capital. He continued studies for painting under the care of an Albanian Master Sculptor Odhise Paskali. Kodra later on won a scholarship to continue further art studies in Italy, granted by the Albanian Monarchy. Only a short time afterwards Kodra was to win the right to another scholarship to study at the Milan Academy of Fine Arts, this time granted by the Italian Government. The first artistic current Kodra was to come up against was neo-classicism. In 1939 the Albanian artist studied at Brera, where he laid the foundations of a profile that was to become uniquely his own, as he proceeded to affirm himself as a contemporary artist. 1944 was to mark another important development for Kodra. He opens his first Arts Studio in Milan; three years later the Albanian artist from Ishem of Durres was to win international renown, beyond the borders of Albania but even of Italy as well. Even Picasso valued Kodra’s work, and it is claimed that there was a good relationship between the two artists. Over the years, Kodra opened hundreds of exhibitions, both individual and collective exhibitions. Today, Kodra’s works can be found in different galleries and museums, private and State owned, or a part of different collections in France, the USA, Italy, Germany, the Museum of the Vatican, Denmark, Switzerland, Greece, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, the UK, Russia, Iran, Georgia, the former Yugoslavia and Kosovo. Kodra was often an active participant in the international Biennales organized in those years, ranking alongside Leger, Picasso, Chagall, Modigliani, Matisse and others. Unfortunately, there are only three works in existence here today which remain from the heritage of the well known artist and can be found in the fund of works of the National Arts Gallery in Tirana. They date back to the years 1938-1942. It is thought that Kodra has painted more than six thousand works which have been distributed throughout Europe and further field. During the years of the communist regime Kodra only managed to return to Albania once in 1973, but he did return in 1996 after the collapse of communism. This event was recognized as a very special moment on the Albanian artistic and cultural calendar, (taken from an Albanian daily newspaper).