It is not common in our parts to see some institution that is not affiliated with culture to care about art, even less to compile a collection of works of art, when it is neither a museum, nor an art gallery. Normally, we can notice enthusiasts, art lovers, and people with clear objective behind any art collection, collecting works of art, selecting them and keeping track of the developments in visual art and building up the collection according to their own affinities. Such people, which triggered the collection of these works of art, existed and still exist in the Economic Chamber of Macedonia. The inception of this art collection dates back to 1965. The core, around which the current collection was built up, consisted of the works of the greats, founders of the contemporary Macedonian visual art, the painters Lichenoski, Martinovski, Pandilov, Kodjoman and others.

The collection was expanded and enhanced with the creations of the middle and younger generation of artists, among others: Petlevski, Korubin, Kondovski, Mazev, Gute, Tashkovski, Manev, Kal’chev and others. Today, this collection comprises over fifty oil paintings and numerous drawings, watercolors and graphics from every generation of Macedonian visual artists.

These works are not prisoners to the museum and gallery depots. They “live” on the walls of the Chamber premises. The paintings refine the space and are in constant dialogue with the employees and visitors of the institution. These creations are the first to “greet” the guests. On their own, they establish a dialogue with the onlooker and therefore, they are usually positioned at the most visible places. The works of art are capable subconsciously to speak volumes of themselves, of the creator and of their owner and perform a mission of ambassadors of good mood and grace.

Therefore, the initiative of the Economic Chamber of Macedonia is beneficial and equally noble, significant to the development of the visual art and the expansion of the art culture in Macedonia.