The University of Technology and Arts in Applied Sciences (UTA), in collaboration with the University of Applied Sciences in Ferizaj (UShAF), organizes the artistic residency “Artistic Transformation of Academic Spaces.”
This residency is implemented within the framework of the Culture and Creativity for the Western Balkans (CC4WBs) Programme, funded by the European Union, and is led by artist and academic Lebibe Topalli.
The residency includes public lectures, participatory workshops, and mural creation within university spaces, fostering intercultural dialogue, artistic research, and student co-creation.
Detailed Agenda (23–28 March 2026)
23 March 2026
- 10:30–11:30
The Impact of Public Art on the Transformation of Cities and Academic Spaces: The Case of Ferizaj, Kosovo
Public lecture presenting the experience of Mural Fest Kosova, selected international case studies, and the role of mural art in transforming cities while strengthening identity and the sense of belonging within academic environments, followed by a discussion with students and academic staff. - 11:30–15:00
Participatory workshop with selected students focused on identifying mural spaces, measuring walls, developing concepts, and creating initial sketches. Working groups are formed and responsibilities defined.
24 March 2026
- 09:00–17:00
Finalization of selected sketches and starting of mural realization, including surface preparation and transfer of the designs onto the walls.
25 March 2026
- 09:00–17:00
Collaborative mural realization with students, focusing on composition development, color structure, and coordinated teamwork under artistic supervision.
26 March 2026
- 09:00–17:00
Continuation of the painting process, refinement of details, technical adjustments, and strengthening of overall visual coherence.
27 March 2026
- 09:00–17:00
Final painting phase, including completion of details and preparation of the space. - 17:00–18:00
Internal presentation and informal viewing, including reflection with students and initial documentation.
28 March 2026
- 09:00–10:00
Official Inauguration
Presentation of the completed artwork, group photographs, short addresses, and media documentation.
Lebibe Topalli is a visual artist whose work focuses on painting, murals, and artistic interventions in public spaces. Her
journey into the art world began in 1999 when, as a refugee in Turkey, she opened her first exhibition. This marked the
start of an uninterrupted artistic journey in which art became a means of testimony, survival, and free expression.
Topalli’s creative practice is characterized by an expressive visual language that combines acrylic painting, collage,
and digital elements. Through figurative and symbolic imagery, she explores collective memory, social narratives,
and women’s experiences, viewing art as a space for reflection, dialogue, and social transformation, situated
between personal intimacy and the public realm.
She has held nine solo exhibitions and participated in over fifty group exhibitions in countries such as Kosovo,
Albania, North Macedonia, Turkey, Switzerland, France, and Germany. Additionally, she has presented her artistic
and research work at international conferences and has published scholarly articles on public art, mural practices,
and cultural heritage.
As the founder and artistic director of Mural Fest Kosova, she has built the organization and curated numerous
public art projects in collaboration with local and international artists. Through this initiative, Ferizaj has been
enriched with over 200 murals and has become known as the „City of Murals.” Currently, she serves as a Professor
of Art and the Dean of the Faculty of Applied Arts at the University of Applied Sciences in Ferizaj, while also pursuing
a PhD in Art History and Archaeology at Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, North Macedonia.
Topalli believes that art is shaped by its relationship with space, time, and the people who experience it.
