Since its foundation in 1980, the International Biennial Festival of drawings and graphics - INTERBIFEP Tuzla has represented one of the most important and significant international art event in ex-Yugoslavia. The reason is not only because in the former community there were not many international exhibitions of that rank (except Ljubljana Graphics and Rijeka Graphics Biennial being two of the old
est events of that kind in the world) but also because of the conscientious approach in the organization as well as in the carrying out of this exhibition. Graphics and drawings as means of expression and techniques, as well as portraiture chosen as the first and unique topic, have promised results from the beginning which proved later to be successful. Indeed a number of works remained there as lasting heritage, thanks to the awards scheme (purchase awards) and the artists who made donations. Today the International Portrait Gallery can be proud of counting in its collection such worldwide- known names of graphic and drawing artists as Safet Zec, Petar Omčikus, Jiri Anderle, Matos Cardoso Jose, Adam Urbanik, Istvan Geller, Yuji Hiratsuka, Dan Mihaltianu, Ivan Kožarić, Dubravka Babić, Vladimir Makuc, Mersad Berber... to mention just some of them, without purpose to disparage the others. The traditional Biennial Festival of portrait – drawings and graphics INTERBIFEP will go on thriving so that this valuable collection will continue developing in the future.
