Stupica studied in Zagreb where he remained until the end of the Second World War. After the war he was appointed professor at the newly founded art academy in Ljubljana. In his works he depicted his intimate world, mainly himself as an artist and his daughter Lucija. He developed a complicated painting technique and often combined oil, tempera, graphite, collage and even assemblage. He was not understood in the local environment, hence most of his major works are kept in Croatia and Serbia. Even though he was not in favour with the communist authorities, he received Prešeren Prize for several times and he continues to be one of the most popular Slovenian modernist artists.