Bartolj Jože

Born in Ljubljana in 1969, Jože Bartolj completed his compulsory military service from September 1988 to September 1989 in the border units of the Yugoslav People’s Army (Jugoslovenska Narodna Armija/Jugoslovanska Ljudska Armada). Following a three-month period of intensive training in Vipava, he was assigned to Sežana, where he served for the remaining nine months. During this period, he was initially involved in border patrol duties along the Italian–Yugoslav frontier and was later reassigned to administrative tasks.
After completing his military service, he pursued studies in fine arts at the Faculty of Education of the University of Ljubljana, graduating in painting with a thesis entitled “The Way of the Cross as a Figurative Organism”. In parallel, he attended the Social Academy and undertook training as a radio presenter.
He has been employed as a cultural editor at Radio Ognjišče and, since 2005, has been responsible for the programme “Moja zgodba” (My Story). In 2014, he received the Borut Meško Honorary Award from the Association of Journalists and Publicists for his professional activity.
Alongside his work in broadcasting, he has maintained an active artistic practice, with a particular interest in sacred art. He has held more than fifty solo exhibitions and continues to paint to this day.