The display of 62 of Mušič's works, which span almost his entire career, is the last permanent exhibition to open at the recently renovated gallery.

Mušič, whose paradigm has been described by the head of the project Mateja Krapež as "using minimal artistic means for maximum effect", spent most of his mature life in Venice and Paris.

Well received from the outset of his career, the modernist painter and graphic artist drew inspiration from his home region of Kras in western Slovenia, but his work is seen as transcending borders.

He caught the attention of the European public with his depictions of horses and became known globally with the 1970 We Are Not the Last series based on his experience of the terror in the Dachau concentration camp.

National Gallery director Barbara Jaki said the display showcased a "man and artist of many homelands" from different periods and made with different techniques. The We Are Not the Last series occupies a prominent position.

The permanent exhibition features less than half of the gallery' 144 Mušič works, of which 56 were donated by the family and 88 are on loan from the family estate. Seven had already been in the gallery's possession.

The painter's niece Vanda Mušič said the donation was made to "bring among the people an encouragement, something beautiful and spiritual...in these materialistic times."

Mušič's works are held by the majority of major 20th century art museums around the world, among them Tate Modern, the Centre Georges Pompidou Modern Art Museum, and Kunstmuseum Basel.

The exhibition opening also featured President Borut Pahor and Jean Clair, a member of the French Academy of Arts and Sciences who is considered an expert on Mušič. He will speak about the artist's work on Thursday.