Slovenia in Us/Love in Us—Lipizzaner Horses showcased works by the Slovenian multimedia artist and photographer Alenka Slavinec. Lipizzaners are renowned worldwide for their beauty and intelligence, and are especially skilled in the art of classical dressage, which includes highly controlled, stylized jumps. They are one of Slovenia’s most important cultural treasures and have been raised on a stud farm in Lipica, near Trieste, since 1580.

The images in this exhibition were taken at the farm and explore Lipizzaners as a symbol of Slovenia, especially during the pivotal years that shaped the country’s history on the global stage, from declaring independence in 1991 to hosting the presidency of the European Union in 2008. The horses also emerge as a testament to survival, which is underscored by the work of US General George S. Patton, who in World War II was involved in Operation Cowboy, a daring mission in which German and American troops joined forces to save a group of Lipizzaners from approaching Soviet forces.

Slavinec’s remarkable works celebrate the resilience of Slovenian people and the values of freedom, dignity, and universal human rights that they—and we—hold dear.