Biljana (Samardžić) Jotić, 1977

Art historian – master, curator. Originally from Herzegovina, she was born in Mostar from father Neđeljko Samardžić and mother Jelica Buha, lived in Bileća. Due to her father’s command as a military person (1989), she moved to Belgrade, where she lives and works. She graduated from the History of Art at the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Belgrade, where she is currently studying for a PhD in the History of Architecture. After a one-year volunteer internship at the National Museum of Serbia, she passed the exams, defended her habilitation and obtained the title of Curator. She is a member of the Council of the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Belgrade and ULUPUDS. She is the mother of two adult children.

She started her professional practice by founding a gallery on her own initiative (2008), which she ran for eight years as the artistic director. She initiated the establishment of an association (2016) with cultural-historical goals. It deals with improving the position of contemporary curatorial practices in the field of visual art, architecture and design with a focus on cooperation between the public and civil sectors. She initiated and realized several original regional and international projects and exhibitions (Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia, North Macedonia, France (Strasbourg), Belgium (Brussels) and national performances (Venice, London, Praque, Malta, Milano). She was the selector of numerous award-winning exhibitions, president and member of the jury. She initiated and moderated several panels, expert guidance at regional and international events.

Her author’s texts have been published in domestic and foreign professional and scientific magazines and publications. She is the author of the documentary series “Woman about Woman”, directed by Boris Miljković and produced by the Beoart contemporary association; co-author of the documentary film “Medijala: „once and now” produced by national television (RTS 3) and numerous exhibitions. She initiated and implemented research on women’s identities in contemporary art, in cooperation with the Institute for the Study of Cultural Development (with a recommendation in the cultural policy of the Republic of Serbia). Her projects have been repeatedly supported by funds from the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia, the City of Belgrade, as well as IPA funds of the European Union.

In the curatorial work she is focused on continuity, contemporary curatorial practices, strengthening the role of women in society. During her mandate as director of the Museum of Applied Art (2021 – 2025), she actively engaged in curatorial and programmatic activities along with management and organizational strategy, encouraged cooperation between the public and civil sectors, as well as inter-museum, inter-generational and international cooperation. She was the commissioner and curator of several national projects that represented the Republic of Serbia at international events (Trinennale di Milano, 2022; London Design Biennale and Prague Quadriennial of Scenic Design 2023; Malta Art Biennale 2024 and Architecture Biennale in Venice 2023 and 2025).

Her previous work has been accompanied by numerous media articles and interviews at the regional and international level. Her biography can be found in the publication Successful People in Serbia, published by An Oxford Worldwide Press Publication.