Ivo Kerdić was born 19 May 1881 in Davor, a small village near Slavonski Brod, Croatia, at that time in Austria-Hungary. The son of a wood merchant, he spent 4 years in elementary school, before going to Zagreb to learn the trade of locksmith in the school for artisans. He returned home on the death of his father, one year later.
In 1900, he went to Paris, where he worked during the day, and studied applied art in the evenings, learning engraving.
Not having the funds to resume his studies in Paris, in 1902 Kerdić went to Vienna, where he worked at the Gillar Bronze Factory, rising to foreman. Kerdić returned to Zagreb in 1913, where he took up a position as lecturer at the College of Arts and Crafts. He pioneered bronze casting at the Academy of Fine Arts, where he taught metalworking from 1923 to 1947.
Ivo Kerdić died in Zagreb 27 October 1953.
Kerdić"s work included items of applied art, portraits and figurative compositions. Examples of his sculptures can be seen in the main and side altar of the church of Street Blaze in Zagreb, the altar of Street Nicolas Tavelica in the church of Street Cyril and Methodius in Jerusalem.
In the Zagreb area, on the Miramarska road is a crucifix by Kerdic. Although he used all kinds of different media in his sculpture, Kerdić is best known for his metalwork. he worked primarily as a medallist and is considered one of the leading exponents of his time.
Kerdić created the chain of office for the Rector of Zagreb University, and the chain for the Grand Master of the Bretheren of the Christian Dragon.
He was responsible for creating medals for the Independent State of Croatia, such as the Crown of King Zvonimir medal, and the Ante Pavelic medal for outstanding bravery. Examples of Ivo Kerdić"s medals and medallions can be seen in the Numismatic collection of the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb, which consists of about 160 works of the artist, dating from 1911 onwards. The Modern Gallery in Zagreb has a larger collection of Kerdić"s works: a total of 625 original works including medals, plaques, badges, award medals, coins and sculptures dating between 1905 to 1953.
His work contains a glimpse of Zagreb and Croatian public life of the time, with its famous personalities and political themes.
Solo Exhibitions
Recent exhibitions of his work include:
2011 Ivo Kerdić - Celebrating the 130th anniversary since the birth of the sculptor, Modern Gallery, Zagreb
2004 Ivo Kerdic works from the permanent collection, Archeological Museum of Zagreb
Group Exhibitions
1931 Belfast Museum and Art Gallery Exhibition of Yugoslav Paintings and Sculpture
1930 Exhibition of Yugoslav Pictures and Sculpture (Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea), 1930
Public Collections
His work can be found in the following public collections
Archeological Museum in Zagreb, Croatia
Modern Gallery, Zagreb, Croatia
Glyptotheque Sculpture Museum, Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts
Croatian History Museum.
