The gallery is housed in the 'Stična Monastery's' former Kostanjevica daughter-house, founded in 1234.
The Forma Viva open-air collection began as a symposium in 1961, bringing international sculptors to work with local oak.
The monastery’s internal arcaded courtyard is one of the largest and best-preserved examples of its kind in Central Europe.
Božidar Jakac, the gallery's namesake, was a prominent Slovenian expressionist painter and a master of graphic techniques.
The monastery buildings were largely abandoned after their dissolution by Emperor Joseph II in 1785 and fell into disrepair before restoration began in the 1950s.
Galerija Božidar Jakac is a regional gallery of fine art situated within the restored 13th-century Cistercian monastery in Kostanjevica na Krki. The museum holds one of the largest collections of expressionist art in Slovenia, featuring works by Božidar Jakac, France Kralj, and Tone Kralj. The complex is world-renowned for its open-air Forma Viva collection, consisting of monumental wooden sculptures placed throughout the monastery grounds and surrounding park. The gallery also hosts thematic exhibitions, a lapidarium of medieval stone architecture, and a permanent collection of Jože Gorjup’s works. The site serves as a vital cultural center for the Posavje region, integrating historical monastic architecture with modern artistic practices. The former monastery church houses large-scale art installations and remains a central architectural feature of the site.
The perspective of the monastery’s arched cloister courtyard looking toward the church bell tower.
Prioritize the Forma Viva park walk, as the sculptures are best viewed in natural light.
Ask at the front desk for current map listings of the temporary exhibitions, as they change frequently throughout the year.
Ensure you have comfortable footwear for walking on the gravel paths surrounding the outdoor sculpture garden.
Do not attempt to touch the outdoor wooden sculptures, as many are aged and fragile.
Closed on Mondays throughout the year.
Maintain a quiet demeanor inside the monastery galleries; photography is generally permitted without flash.
