17 Notable alumni of University of Arts
Updated: May 26, 2026 EliteDegrees
University of Arts is ranked #9,051 in the world and #11 in Albania by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 17 notable alumni from University of Arts sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff. Many individuals affiliated with University of Arts won Nobel Prizes for Peace, in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Economics.
1. Vénera Kastrati
1975-. (aged 51)
artist
Vénera Kastrati is an Albanian contemporary artist.
2. Piro Qirjo
1963-. (aged 63)
film director
Piro Qirjo is an Albanian actor and director. Most notably, he played Gjorg Berisha in Të paftuarit of Ismail Kadare's adaptation of Broken April and the German Wehrmacht major Max in Kronikë e një nate. His directing career is known for documentary films and various advertisement films.
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3. Mirjam Tola
opera singer
Mirjam Tola is an Albanian operatic soprano and voice teacher. She is also an Austrian citizen.
4. Gentian Lulani
1972-. (aged 54)
artist
Gentian Lulani, better known as Gentian is an Albanian artist.
5. Leon Qafzezi
1953-. (aged 73)
film director
film critic
writer
journalist
poet
Leon Qafzezi is an Albanian writer and cineaste.
6. Qëndrim Rijani
1990-. (aged 36)
film director
theatrical director
Qëndrim Rijani is an Albanian director of theatre, film and opera. He has directed many plays, Albanian and foreign, that were performed in many countries in Europe and that have been honored with many awards in various festivals. His plays are characterised by his direct and rough style. He is also the director of the first opera in the Albanian...
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7. Edi Rama
1964-. (aged 62)
politician
painter
basketball player
journalist
sculptor
Edi Rama is an Albanian politician, artist, and writer who has served as prime minister of Albania since 2013 and as chairman of the Socialist Party of Albania since 2005. He was the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports from 1998 to 2000 and the mayor of Tirana from 2000 to 2011.
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8. Inva Mula
1963-. (aged 63)
opera singer
lyric soprano
Inva Mula is an Albanian opera lyric soprano. She began her soprano career at a very early age. Her father (Avni Mula) and mother (Nina Mula ) were also opera singers. She is also known for providing the voice of the diva Plavalaguna in the film The Fifth Element.
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9. Bleona
1979-. (aged 47)
film director
entrepreneur
media personality
film producer
actor
Bleona Nazmi Qereti is an Albanian and American singer-songwriter, actress, model and producer. Her career made her one of the most famous Albanian celebrities on Hollywood.
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10. Ermonela Jaho
1974-. (aged 52)
opera singer
Ermonela Jaho is an Albanian operatic soprano. She was described in The Economist as "the world’s most acclaimed soprano". The Financial Times said "Ermonela Jaho throws heart and soul into her singing... Don't even try to resist".
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11. Aurela Gaçe
1974-. (aged 52)
singer
Aurela Gaçe is an Albanian singer-songwriter, actress and television personality. Her music career made her to be called as the diva of South Albania.
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12. Jonida Maliqi
1983-. (aged 43)
singer
television presenter
Jonida Maliqi is an Albanian singer and media personality.
13. Laertis Vasiliou
1974-. (aged 52)
political pundit
theatrical director
writer
translator
actor
Laert Vasili is an Albanian actor, film and theatre director and political commentator, known for his roles in theater and cinema. Vasili has often been part of public debates, among the key voices of civil society for the rights of Albanians in Greece.
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14. Anri Sala
1974-. (aged 52)
printmaker
cinematographer
video installation artist
television producer
film producer
Anri Sala is an Albanian contemporary artist whose primary medium is video.
15. Kejsi Tola
1992-. (aged 34)
singer
Kejsi Tola is an Albanian singer and songwriter. After winning the 47th edition of Festivali i Këngës, she represented Albania at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009.
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16. Arben Imami
1958-. (aged 68)
politician
Arben Fahri Imami is an Albanian politician and former actor. He served as the minister of defense between 2009 and 2013.
17. Ornela Vorpsi
1968-. (aged 58)
painter
writer
photographer
Ornela Vorpsi, is an Albanian writer and photographer from the Vorpsi family in Tirana. Ornela studied at the Academy of Fine Arts of Brera in Milan, and has been living and working in Paris since 1997. An excerpt of her novel The Country Where One Never Dies was included in Best European Fiction 2010, edited by Aleksander Hemon and prefaced...
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