Renowned Albanian painter Alush Shima turns 82 today. Minister of Economy, Culture, and Innovation, Blendi Gonxhja, hailed him as a “great master of Albanian art” for his enduring contribution to the nation’s cultural legacy.

Shima, born on October 21, 1942, in Tirana, began drawing at the age of eight. Despite the communist regime’s constraints, he painted in secret for two decades. His works surfaced after 1990 at the National Gallery of Arts, earning him the title “Great Master” in 2012.

Shima also made his mark in Albanian cinema, designing sets and costumes for iconic films between 1967 and 1990.

/a.c/