Born in Ružomberok, Ľudovít Fulla (1902-1980) was a painter and graphic artist whose accolades included the title National Artist. After studies at Prague's School of Industrial Art under Hoffbauer and Kysela (1922 - 1927) he taught from 1929 to 1939 at Bratislava's school of applied art, an institution modelled on the Bauhaus. Together with Mikulaš Galanda he was present at the birth of modern Slovak art, which had affinities with European avantgarde movements. His reflections were published in "The Private Correspondence of Fulla and Galanda" (1930-32), a manifesto of modem art quite without equal in Slovakia. Fulla's contribution to art lies in the harmonious synthesis of the influences of folk art traditions with modern expressive means. Fulla worked in many fields of art: painting, graphics, drawing, and stage and tapestry design. In 1969 he donated a substantial part of his work to the state, and this is now housed in the gallery in Ružomberok - part of the Slovak National Gallery - which bears his name.