JOSEPH TURKALY, The Life of a Sculptor  by Thomas Turkaly and Frank Prpic

~ Gorgeous Coffee Table Book ~

This monograph follows the life of Joseph Turkaly, from his humble beginnings in a small Croatian village, to being educated in Europe's  leading Fine Arts academies, then through his life in America. It details his working for Ivan Mestrovic, a fellow world-renowned Croatian sculptor, to Joseph's own large-scale commissions for churches, basilicas, college campuses, and public settings. In addition, it includes many smaller works that have found their way into private collections around the world. During his career, he was also an educator, helping to inspire the next generation of artists. The book is filled with archival photos and sketches that show how his life's experiences inspired his work.

Frank Prpic: "One of my oldest childhood memories was when my father took me to 'Stric Joso's' first studio in Cleveland. I remember watching in awe as he breathed life into huge pieces of marble with his and pneumatic tools. Joseph sparked my interest in tools and from a very young age influenced my desire to create. I am very grateful to have had a life-long friendship with the Turkaly family, and to have played a part in the creation of this monograph celebrating Joseph's exceptional body of work!"

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"One of Joseph Turkaly's best known sculptures is, at least among those of us in the Croatian diaspora, is his IMMIGRANT MOTHER, which has had 5 castings. The first sculpture is located in Buenos Aires, Argentina; the second is at the Hrvatska Matica Iseljenika offices in Zagreb, Croatia; the third is in the Turkaly Art Trust; the fourth is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the Croatian Fraternal Union's headquarters, and the fifth is located in the Croatian Cultural Garden in Cleveland, Ohio. It is a truly breathtaking work of art which celebrates the lives of all immigrants who have come to America, but most especially, our CROATIAN immigrants..."*

*Melissa Pintar Obenauf, Heart of Croatia

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The book features a foreword by Dr. Henry Adams, a prominent art historian and curator of American art at various museums. Principal photography was taken by Frank Prpic, who also served as the lead layout designer for the project. Additionally, the book includes many sketches, archival images of earlier works, candid studio photographs, and family photos.

 The book is divided into four distinct periods of his life.  Born in 1924, Chapter I explores his early years in rural Croatia, detailing his first exposure to sculpture and his education in the arts at high school and the University of Fine Arts in Zagreb. It follows his difficult decision to leave his homeland to continue his education at the Fine Arts Academy of Rome, where he earned his master’s degree

 Chapter II recounts his journey to America as he worked as Ivan Mestrovic’s assistant at the University of Notre Dame in the late 1950s, highlighting Joseph's efforts to establish his own career in a new country. Chapter III focuses on his move to Cleveland, where he began teaching at Gilmour Academy to support his growing family. This new phase enabled him to accept large-scale commissions and build his reputation.

         Chapter IV reflects on the final decades of his life, during which he retired from teaching and faced health challenges that limited his work. No longer able to manage large-scale projects, he channeled his creativity into a more modern form, producing smaller pieces for private collectors that marked a significant departure from his earlier, more representational works. It concludes with his death in 2007 and his continuing legacy.

~ This stunning and well-produced book belongs in EVERY Croatian home ~

THIS BOOK CAN ONLY BE SHIPPED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES (mainland)

~ Let's celebrate those Croatian artists who have made an enormous impact in our world ~

Due to weight, all books will be shipped by USPS MEDIA MAIL at the rate of $9.95 per book.