Tea Morić Šitum

Tea Morić Šitum’s creative process is based on the exploration of the possibilities of constructing a form that evokes an object while retaining its autonomy and freedom, leading to a coexistence between abstraction and representation.
 
Her latest series “Intuition” builds upon the previous one, “Metamorphosis”, and draws on the color theory, combining an intuitive approach to color with methodical precision, where spontaneous choices are complemented by thoughtful reflection on their relations and psychological effects.
 
For the artist, each layer of color contributes to a deeper understanding of herself, while the creative process generates a dynamic interplay where the harmony between artist and artwork yields personal liberation. By deliberately choosing flowers — often stereotyped as “feminine” subject matter — she confronts and reframes questions of sensitivity and gender, transforming a simple motif into a means of profound personal transformation.

Short bio

Tea Morić Šitum (b. 1987) develops her painting expression through a rich color palette and expressive brushstrokes, resulting from years of artistic experimentation that began with photography in high school and continued through performance and digital photography during her studies. She graduated in Art Education at the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb in 2012, dedicating herself to painting out of love and Dalmatian dišpet (spite), despite the stance of contemporary art trends – that painting is passé.

Through 10 solo and over 20 group exhibitions, Tea demonstrates how traditional techniques can follow contemporary needs and aesthetics. She has also gained experience as a curator, founding the “Split Tiramola” and leading the Gallery of the Cultural Center in Bol (2010) and collaborating on exhibitions like “Natura maris” (2015). She is active in Split’s cultural life, for example through workshops, art colonies, and creating the “Vinka Luković” award (2016–2018).

A member of HDLU (Croatian Association of Artists) since 2011 and HULU (Croatian Association of Visual Artists) since 2013, Tea lives in Kaštel Gomilica, balancing family life and her painting practice. She has been the leader of the “TIF Collective” since 2018, focused on creativity, artistic experiments and cultural exchange, and has recently become a member of HZSU (Croatian Freelance Artists Association).

Discover the art

Tea Morić Šitum (b. 1987) develops her painting expression through a rich color palette and expressive brushstrokes. Her style reflects years of artistic exploration, beginning with photography in high school, evolving into performance and digital photography during her studies, and ultimately leading her to discover her true expression in painting.

After completing her Art Education studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb in 2012, she dedicated herself to painting (out of genuine love, but also out of proud Dalmatian spite, regionally called dišpet), despite the stance of contemporary art trends – that painting is passé.

Approaching painting as a kind of experiment and play, she deepened her artistic expression through 10 solo exhibitions and participation in over 20 juried group exhibitions, both in Croatia and abroad. On this journey, she showed how traditional painting techniques can indeed be adapted to the needs, aesthetics, and spirit of contemporary society, through color palettes, (re)shaping traditional motifs, and messages hidden beneath thick layers of paint.

Beyond painting, her curiosity afforded her some curatorial experience. Tea is the conceptual founder of “Split Tiramola”, a manifestation she organized in 2006 and 2007, which continues to this day. She continued to enrich her experience as the director of the Gallery of the Cultural Center in Bol on Brač (2010), and later through collaborations in organizing several group exhibitions, notably “Natura maris” (Split, Croatia – Vannes, France, 2015).

She continues to enrich her knowledge by participating in art criticism workshops, art colonies, and engagement in the artistic and cultural life of the city of Split (for example, creating the “Vinka Luković” Annual Award for the Development and Promotion of Volunteering, 2016–2018).

She has been a member of HDLU (Croatian Association of Artists) since 2011 and HULU (Croatian Association of Visual Artists) since 2013.

Since 2018, she has been the leader of the artistic organization “TIF kolektiv”, which has a mission of nurturing creativity, encouraging artistic experiments, and creating an atmosphere of cultural exchange, artistic dialogue, and freedom of artistic expression. The organization’s primary activity is focused on fine and applied arts, children’s art workshops, and organizing exhibitions. Recently, she has also become a full member of HZSU (Croatian Freelance Artists Association).

As part of the artistic organization “TIF kolektiv”, and also through her independent work, she organizes and leads specialized art workshops for children, adults, and retirees. Her pedagogical work has further fueled her curiosity, and at this moment, she is completing a two-year training in expressive art therapy and plans to pursue further education in the therapeutic field.

Tea currently lives in Kaštel Gomilica and successfully balances family life with two small children, work in her studio/gallery (at Sinjska Street 7, Split), and her active, passionate painting practice.

2024 – “Metodičnost intuicije”, Teatrin, Gradska knjižnica Solin (City Library Solin)

2024 – “Pretapanje”, with Karin Grenc i Alma Čače, GKS Metković (Gallery of the City Cultural Center Metković)

2024 – “Intuicija”, with Karin Grenc i Alma Čače, Sveučilišna galerija (University Library), Split

2022 – “Metamorfoze II”, Alliance Francaise, Split

2022 – “Metamorfoze”, Muzej grada Splita (Split City Museum), Split

2020 – “Metanoia – Bezdan”, GKS Metković (Gallery of the City Cultural Center Metković)

2018 – “Maritimistika”, Alliance Francaise, Split

2017 – “Hod po rubu sredozemlja”, with Karin Grenc and Frane Šitum, Galerija Aluminij (Aluminij Gallery), Mostar, BiH

2016 – “Alegorija plovidbe”, with Ivan Listeš, Sveučilišna galerija (University Library), Split

2015 – “Tea Morić Šitum i Irena Rogulj – izložba slika i fotografija”, Muzej grada Kaštela (Kaštela Town Museum), Dvorac Vitturi (Vitturi Castle), Kaštel Lukšić

2014 – Summer exhibitions in the Branislav Dešković Gallery, Bol

2014 – “Reci Luci nešto lijepo…”, Galerija Vinko Draganja OP Dominikanski samostan u Splitu (Gallery Vinko Draganja OP Dominican Monastery in Split)

2010 – “Tea Morić i Željka Cupek”, Centar za kulturu Bol (Bol Cultural Center)

2008 – “Bolski fotografi”, with Roni Marinković i Ana Hero, Centar za kulturu Bol (Bol Cultural Center)

2007 – “Doručak na travi”, Zavičajni muzej grada Rovinja (Rovinj Heritage Museum)

2024 – “Oprosti mi Bože, jer sam Dalmatinac”, Nacionalna i sveučilišna knjižnica (National and University Library), Zagreb

2024 – “Tragom geste”, Galerija HDLU Istre (Gallery of Croatian Association of Artists Istria), Pula

2023 – “Posveta sv. Jeronimu”, Sveučilišna knjižnica (University Library), Split

2018 – “Mare Magnum – the Mediterranean Sea Through Art”, Athens, Greece

2018 – “Svjetlo Božića”, Galerija Vinko Draganja OP Dominikanski samostan u Splitu (Gallery Vinko Draganja OP Dominican Monastery in Split)

2018 – “Mali format”, galerija Doma kulture Zvonimir – Solin (Gallery of the Zvonimir Cultural Center – Solin), SalonaArt

2017 – “Križni put”, Galerija Vinko Draganja OP Dominikanski samostan u Splitu (Gallery Vinko Draganja OP Dominican Monastery in Split)

2017 – Splitski cvit 2017: “Zemaljski raj”, Stara gradska vijećnica (Old Town Hall), Split

2017 – “Likovni gen – prokletstvo ili blagoslov”, Galerija Brešan (Gallery Brešan), Stara gradska vijećnica (Old Town Hall), Split

2016 – 3. likovna kolonija “Krešimir Ledić”, Galerija kraljice Katarine Kosače (Queen Katarina Kosača Gallery), Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

2016 – “Mali format”, galerija Doma kulture Zvonimir – Solin (Gallery of the Zvonimir Cultural Center – Solin), SalonaArt

2016 – “Vjetar u jedrima”, Galerija Brešan (Gallery Brešan), Stara gradska vijećnica (Old Town Hall), Split

2016 – “Natura maris”, Zavičajni muzej Biograd na moru (The Heritage Museum Biograd na moru)

2015 – “Natura maris – hrvatski umjetnici u Francuskoj”, Auditorium des Carmes, Vannes, France

2015 – 39. Splitski salon: “Prikazi podjeljenosti”, Split

2015 – “Natura maris – hrvatski umjetnici u Francuskoj”, the cellars of the Diocletian’s palace, Split

2015 – “Ljubav je…”, group exhibitions of the KuSt association, Stara gradska Vijećnica (Old Town Hall), Split

2015 – “Otajstva nježnosti”, Galerija Vinko Draganja OP Dominikanski samostan u Splitu  (Gallery Vinko Draganja OP Dominican Monastery in Split)

2014 – “Mali format”, galerija Doma kulture Zvonimir – Solin (Gallery of the Zvonimir Cultural Center – Solin), SalonaArt

2014 – NUS festival : “O za osmjeh”, MKC (Multimedia Cultural Center), Split

2013 – “Predstavljanje, dolazak u stvarnost”, 1st group exhibiton of artists from Kaštela, Muzej grada Kaštela (Kaštela Town Museum), Nadbiskupska palača (Archbishop’s Palace), Kaštel Sućurac

2013 – “Mali format”, galerija Doma kulture Zvonimir – Solin (Gallery of the Zvonimir Cultural Center – Solin), SalonaArt

2013 – NUS festival: “Tabu”, MKC (Multimedia Cultural Center), Split

2007 – “Radovi u tijeku”, interventions by young artists in the public space around the new Museum of Contemporary Art, performance “Doručak na travi” (Luncheon on the Grass), Zagreb

2007 – “Fragmenti grada”, Galerija Pravi put (Pravi put Gallery), Zagreb

2007 – “Varijacije MoZga” festival, Galerija Aluminij (Aluminij Gallery), Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

2006–2007 – “Splitska tiramola 1 i 2” exhibitions, in the space of the information center, Split

Tea Morić Šitum’s works can be found in numerous private collections worldwide, including Great Britain, the USA, Canada, Austria, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia (multiple private collections, the Franciscan Monastery and Church of St. Bonaventure in Visoko, Medjugorje, etc.).

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Tea Morić Šitum - Intuicija, akrill i ulje na platnu, 2023., DLightful galerija / Intuition, acrylic and oil on canvas, 2023, DLightful Gallery