(Yugoslavian, b. 1946) Zvonimir Mihanovic was born August 12, 1946 in Sitno Donje near Split, on the beautiful Dalmation coast of Croatia on the Adriatic Sea. His art draws inspiration from the picturesque harbors, marine vistas, and small villages of his homeland. Using the common, familiar, and attractive images of Croatia, Mihanovic draws one into his paintings - but it is not the amazing detail or scenery that holds the viewer's interest but the atmospheric quality that Mihanovic instills into each work of art. His realism couples a meticulous detailing to a sense of moodiness, emphasizing either a sense of the waves calming down, winds coming to a stop, or a diminishing breeze occasionally leaving ripples in the depicted water.

Mihanovic studied art for many years in his native land, graduating from the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb, and then continued his studies in Italy and France where he graduated in 1976 from the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Paris. In 1966 his work was chosen to be exhibited in the Croatian Pavilion at the Atlanta Summer Olympics. The following year he was honored by U.N.E.S.C.O., in Paris, with an exhibition of his work as part of the celebration of the cultural history of his beloved city, Split. That same year he was awarded the highest cultural honor that his country can bestow, the Order of the Morning Star. He won international acclaim in 1978, when as a young painter he was awarded the grand prize of the prestigious Salon d'Automne in Paris.

Although his recognition launched an international career, Mihanovic continues to maintain a studio in his native land. He has had numerous one-man exhibitions of his work in the United States, including New York, Chicago, Palm Beach, Aspen, and Los Angeles. The Museum of Modern Art, Zagreb, and other European museums also possess his work, along with many collectors in Europe, Latin America, and the United States. In further recognition and appreciation of his talent, his native country Croatia has issued postage stamps that carry his beautiful images throughout the world. As a "Modern Master of Realism", Mihanovic is a refreshing welcome to the world of contemporary art.