A professor of painting and drawing at the Ljubljana Academy of Fine Arts and Design, Gorenec, 59, is "an extraordinary analyst and studious researcher and creator of art," the jury said.

Gorenec recently had his work exhibited Ljubljana City Gallery in what was one of the biggest shows of his work after a solo exhibition in the Ljubljana Museum of Modern Art in 1990.

The prize was conferred at a ceremony on Monday evening that also paid tribute to another Jakopič Prize winner, the recently deceased Jože Ciuha.

Culture Minister Julijana Bizjak Mlakar said the ministry was well aware of the importance of the prize, which it has been co-financing for years.

"We realise that funds invested in culture are always a good investment, for the contribution of culture to society far outweighs the financial investment."

The Jakopič Prize has been conferred since 1969.

In recent years the winner is picked by the Association of Fine Arts Societies, the Academy of Fine Arts and Design, Moderna galerija, and the Association of Fine Arts Critics.

Last year the prize went to sculptor and architect Jože Barši.