Welcome to the Website of the Society to Preserve the Millvale Murals of Maxo Vanka

The Society to Preserve the Millvale Murals of Maxo Vanka was founded in 1990 for the purpose of preserving and enhancing the striking murals that adorn a modest church near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The walls and the ceiling of St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church are decorated with elaborate tempera paintings by the artist Maxo Vanka. The murals tell the story of the Croatian peasants who left their native farm lands at the turn of the century to seek a better life in the post-industrial United States of America. The evocative murals also capture Vanka's strong beliefs about the futility of war and his sadness about the destruction of the motherland.

Vanka, who immigrated to America from Croatia in the 1930s, painted the murals in two sessions - first in 1937, then in 1941. He was commissioned for the work by parish priest, Father Albert Zagar, who gave the artist a free hand to give life to his powerful feelings about spirituality, humanity, history, and politics.

When he finished the painting Vanka declared, These murals are my "gift to America." On May 7th through 10th actors and theatrical lighting will bring the murals to life and tell their story in the play "Gift to America." Click here to read more about the production.