Costume designer Cveta Mirnik (1951–2021) responded in 1989, in the theatre bulletin of the Celje City Theatre, to the question of what she still hoped to achieve in her theatrical work: »I have already said that I am probably an incurable optimist – therefore I hope for the best, both in my personal development and in the development and capacities of theatre institutions. I would like to remain a costume designer – in the best possible sense.«
Living in the Municipality of Žalec, she began her theatre career at the nearby Celje City Theatre, and later designed for theatres in Nova Gorica, Maribor, and Ptuj, as well as for the Ljubljana City Theatre and the SNT Drama Ljubljana. She created 45 costume designs at various Slovenian theatre institutions, but collaborated in film and television as well.
She was awarded the Borštnik Prize twice, in 1979 and 1985. Except for theatre stages, she presented sketches and costumes in the frame of individual exhibitions in Žalec, Laško, Celje and Maribor, as well as at group exhibitions at home and abroad.
In 2025, the Slovenian Theatre Institute, which preserves Mirnik’s realized sketches (those that came to life either on stage or on film), joined with the Intermunicipal Public Library Žalec, which holds her unrealized costume concepts and study drawings, the ZKŠT Žalec Institute for Culture, Sport and Tourism and curator Alenka Domjan, Mirnik’s friend since childhood. This collaboration resulted in the exhibitions Cveta Mirnik: Costume Designer and Her World, opened in March 2026 at the Slovenian Theatre Institute in Ljubljana and at the Savin Art Salon in Žalec, as well as in a joint exhibition catalogue. The exhibition in Ljubljana places greater emphasis on sketches that were realized on stages, while the exhibition in Žalec focuses primarily on unrealized works. The exhibitions are complemented by costumes from productions of Celje City Theatre and SNT Nova Gorica.
In 2026, the travelling exhibition Cveta Mirnik: Costume Designer and Her World will be on display: from mid-June to the end of August at the Intermunicipal Public Library Žalec (partial presentation); in September and October at the Celje City Theatre; in November and December at the SNT Nova Gorica.
“Yes, an immeasurable love for the theatre drove Mrs. Cveta Mirnik to dream of theatre even in her free time and without a theatre commission. Is there any greater love for one’s profession, which can always be fully realized only on the stage?”
From the exhibition catalogue (Vinko Möderndorfer: Cveta Mirnik – A Single, All-Encompassing Love for the Theatre)
Public Guided Tours:
– on Wednesday, 25th March 2026, at 5.30 p.m.,
– on Tuesday, 14th April 2026, at 5.30 p.m.,
– on Thursday, 21st May 2026, at 5.30 p.m..
Educational program accompanying the exhibition:
How to Dress a PerformanceGuided Tour with Workshop
At the temporary exhibition, we will explore the works of costume designer Cveta Mirnik and learn how theatrical performances used to be dressed for the stage. Participants will gain insight into the creative process, from the text and initial ideas to sketches and the final costumes. They will also engage in a creative activity in which they will develop the visual concept for an imagined performance and sketch theatre costumes. This interdisciplinary programme connects literary, theatre, and visual arts and is suitable for kindergartens, primary schools, and secondary schools. The content, approach, and duration of the programme are adapted to the participants’ age group.
Schedule: Monday to Friday, 9:00–16:00 Duration: 60–120 minutes Price: 2,50 EUR per participant
More information and registration for the educational program: sandra.jenko@slogi.si
The exhibition was opened on Tuesday, 3rd March 2026, at 6 p.m.
Opening and installation of the exhibition. Photo: SLOGI.
From the media (in Slovenian)
Novo življenje za svetove, ki so zaživeli v kostumografijah Cvete Mirnik, MMC RTV SLO, 10. 3. 2026
V Slogiju razstavo posvetili kostumografijam Cvete Mirnik, STA, 10. 3. 2026
Razstava Cveta Mirnik: kostumografinja in njen svet, SiGledal, 8. 3. 2026
CVETA MIRNIK
Costume Designer and Her World
Exhibition at the Slovenian Theatre Institute from 10 March to 22 May 2026; travelling exhibition from June to December 2026
Production: Slovenian Theatre Institute (SLOGI) • Author and Curator: Tea Rogelj • Graphic Design: Jože Domjan • Technical Realization: Andrej Ovsec • Educational Programmes: Sandra Jenko • Language Editor: Andraž Polončič Ruparčič
Costumes for the exhibition were provided in collaboration with Celje City Theatre and SNT Nova Gorica. • We are especially grateful for materials and information provided by: Marinka Colja (SNT Nova Gorica), Tatjana Kolenc (SNT Nova Gorica), Anita Kragelj (Celje City Theatre), Teja Merhar (The Archives, Museum of Modern Art), Dušan Mlakar, Nevenka Tomašević, and Ivica Vodovnik (Celje City Theatre).
The project Cveta Mirnik: Costume Designer and Her World is a collaborative effort of:
The exhibition at SLOGI and the traveling exhibition were made possible by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia.
part of LUV fest
