Early Life and Artistic Training

Jozef Trepáč was born on 21 October 1936 in Valaská Belá, Slovakia. His technical foundation began in the studio of the academic painter Michal Tillner. This early exposure provided the necessary discipline before he moved into formal institutional training. He subsequently attended the Secondary School of Applied Arts in Bratislava, a move that solidified his trajectory toward professional practice.

The most decisive period of his development occurred between 1960 and 1966 at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bratislava. During these years, Trepáč worked within the studios of Ladislav Čemický and Ján Mudroch. His focus during this time was centered on the department of figurative-compositional and portrait painting. This specific academic grounding dictated the technical rigor found in his later output.

Artistic Focus and Style

Trepáč operates primarily within the realm of chamber painting, a discipline that demands a specific kind of compositional discipline. His output is defined by a clear concentration on figurative painting. He focuses heavily on the female figure and the portrait, treating the human subject with a directness that avoids unnecessary ornamentation. This focus on the figure is balanced by his engagement with landscape and still life, creating a body of work that remains grounded in tangible, observable reality.

Within his still life compositions, floral arrangements hold a particularly significant place. These works are not mere exercises in texture; they are central to his visual language. His ability to handle these subjects extends into the graphic arts, where he applied his sensibilities to newspaper and book illustration. This versatility allowed him to move between the intimate scale of a canvas and the broader demands of publishing, working for various outlets including Mladé letá and Smena.

His approach to subject matter is disciplined and avoids the distractions of abstraction. Whether he is capturing a portrait or a floral arrangement, the intent remains focused on the essential form. His catalog includes several notable examples of this controlled execution:

• Brigade (1978)
• Still Life on My Table (1985)
• Still Life with Red Wine (1986)

Teaching and Academic Career

Trepáč’s influence extended far beyond the canvas, rooted in a structured academic career that shaped several generations of Slovak artists. His pedagogical work began in the late 1960s, serving at the People's School of Art in Bratislava and the Pedagogical School in Modra between 1968 and 1969. During this same period, he contributed as an external lecturer to the Faculty of Education at Comenius University in Trnava. This early period established a foundation for a long-term commitment to formal art education.

By 1970, he transitioned into a permanent role as a university teacher at the Department of Fine Arts within the Faculty of Education at Comenius University in Trnava. His administrative and academic authority grew steadily over the following decades. From 1983 to 1990, he held the position of docent and headed the Department of Fine Arts at the Faculty of Education in Nitra. This tenure solidified his reputation as a central figure in the academic landscape of the region.

The final major chapter of his academic life took place in Bratislava. Following his habilitation, he assumed leadership of the Department of Fine Arts at the Faculty of Education of Comenius University in Bratislava in 1990. He maintained this leadership position until 2003, focusing his teaching efforts on the discipline of painting. His career represents a consistent link between studio practice and the formal instruction of the next generation of painters.

Exhibitions and Museum Collections

Since 1966, Jozef Trepáč has maintained a consistent presence in the exhibition circuit, presenting his work in both domestic and foreign venues. His career includes sixteen solo exhibitions, a record that reflects a sustained engagement with the public and the institutional art world. These exhibitions have established his presence within the Slovak art scene, moving beyond mere participation to a documented history of individual shows.

The institutional recognition of his work is evident in its placement within several major Slovak collections. His paintings are held by the SNG in Bratislava and the Gallery of the City of Bratislava. These holdings are supplemented by his inclusion in the collections of the Ján Koniarik Gallery in Trnava and the Nitra Gallery. His work also resides in the Vlastivedné múzeum in Bojnice and is part of the collections held by the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic and the Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic. These placements ensure his output remains part of the permanent national record.