Otto Bihalji-Merin Salon in Belgrade Guided Tour

Step Inside the Hidden World of Oto Bihalji-Merin – A Guided Cultural Encounter in Belgrade

Begin your journey at the doorstep of creativity – where your guide will welcome you into one of Belgrade’s most intimate and meaningful cultural spaces. This exclusive guided tour takes place inside the former home of Oto Bihalji-Merin, a towering figure of Yugoslav intellectual and artistic life.

For nearly five decades, Bihalji-Merin and his wife Lisa lived and worked in this very apartment. Today, it serves as a captivating exhibition and research space, offering rare insight into the mind of a man who helped shape European modern art discourse. With your guide, you’ll explore a preserved archive, a vast library, and an art collection with both national and international relevance.

Discover 20th-Century Art from a Global Perspective

Guided through the permanent exhibition, you’ll encounter 95 carefully selected works spanning a wide variety of artistic styles, regions, and movements. From iconic Yugoslav modernist pieces and examples of naive art to unique non-European creations, the selection highlights Bihalji-Merin’s inclusive and forward-thinking approach to art curation.

Your guide will also share the lesser-known story of Bihalji-Merin as not just a curator, but also a painter, editor, anti-fascist thinker, and early advocate for marginal voices in art—long before they gained mainstream recognition.

Uncover the Power of Marginal and Outsider Art

In addition to the permanent display, you’ll have the chance to view one of the rotating temporary exhibitions that spotlight artists from outsider, marginal, and art brut traditions. These thematic shows reveal bold, unconventional works that challenge the norms of contemporary art and offer new ways of seeing.

Visit the Nerve Center of the Museum of Naïve and Marginal Art

This location is more than a gallery—it’s the official headquarters of Serbia’s renowned Museum of Naïve and Marginal Art. During your visit, your guide will help you uncover how this institution, through the legacy of Bihalji-Merin, positioned Serbia as a global reference point for non-traditional and self-taught artistic expression.

Why Take This Tour?

Whether you’re an art lover, a student of cultural history, or a traveler seeking a different side of Belgrade, this guided experience offers a deeply human and thought-provoking encounter. Join us to see how one man’s passion for art beyond the mainstream helped shape a legacy that continues to influence Europe’s cultural landscape.

Meeting Point

Your journey begins at the entrance to the Oto Bihalji-Merin Salon, centrally located in Belgrade. A dedicated guide will greet you and lead you through this extraordinary experience.