Hi, I am Alena.
I am a Prague local, Tour guide, Foodie, Nature lover and Traveller.
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TOP Art Exhibitions in Prague 2019
For art lovers planning a trip to Prague, don’t miss out on world class masterpieces hidden within the walls of beautiful historical palaces.
You’re in luck! Because we have selected the best art exhibitions in Prague for 2019.
Each exhibition gives you a chance to see amazing works of art in beautiful European venues hundreds of years old. And you can take as long or as short as you would like with each exhibit because the venues are off the beaten path (there won’t be too many tourists for you to worry about).
Our selection includes seven exhibition projects organised by renowned Czech institutions. If you are interested, one of our docents will take you around on a private guided tour.
1. Salm Modern #1: Dimensions of Dialog (all year round 2019)
National Gallery - Salm Palace
https://www.ngprague.cz/en/budova/salmovsky-palac/
The title of this exhibition is derived from a Czech Surrealist film maker, Jan Švankmajer, who influenced artists from all over the world including Hollywood’s very own Tim Burton. The name of the exhibition points out the dialog between contemporary Czech artists, who gained the recognition on the international art scene and icons of the 20th century art such as Andy Warhol, Frank Stella, Keith Haring, Nobujoši Araki, Marina Abramović, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Dan Flavin, Katarzyna Kozyra, Hermann Nitsche, Pipilotti Rist and Jean Tinguely. The exposition is located in Classicist palace at Hradcanske Square right in front of the main entrance to the Prague Castle.
Our tip: Art and dinning - after seeing the exhibition enjoy lunch at Kuchyne - a recently opened restaurant located in Salmo palace with great views overlooking the city.
2. Havel for President! The Year 1989 in Photographs. (November 13, 2019 – February 16, 2020)
National Gallery - Fair Trade Palace
https://www.ngprague.cz/en/budova/veletrzni-palac/
This year the Czech Republic is commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution that led to the collapse of the Communist regime in the country, then called Czechoslovakia. This exhibition displays documentary photographs from the year 1989 capturing both - the revolutionary as well as pre-revolutionary everyday life. The exhibit focuses on Havel, the leader of the revolution, and in many aspects his extraordinary personality: a play-write, philosopher and dissident.
Our tip: the exhibition is placed in a modern Functionalist building - Fair Trade Palace - the main bulding of the National Gallery that is not only full of Czech art, but also includes significant acquisitions of French art. You can see paintings from Gauguin, Picasso or Renoir. The gallery itself is located three tram stops away from the historical centre in a cool and vibrant district very popular among young generation.
3. Jiřičná (March 22 – August 12)
DOX Centre for Contemporary Art
Exhibition of the Czech architect Eva Jiricna, who was forced to work mostly abroad due to the Soviet invasion of 1968, is worth seeing for the gallery space itself. DOX - Centre for Contemporary Art is famous for having a huge wooden airship on it’s rooftop. It was designed by another renowned architect Martin Rajniš, and is opened to visitors as a part of the exhibition space. The multimedia exhibition commemorates Eva Jiricna’s life and her contribution to architecture. In the city of Prague, you will come across her work in the Royal Garden at the Prague Castle, where on the request of the former President Václav Havel she created a modern Orangery (green house).
Our tip: visit the airship and the museum’s unique design shop.
4. Josef Šíma – The Road to Le Grand Jeu (April 19 – July 30, 2019)
National Gallery in Prague - Wallenstein Riding School
https://www.ngprague.cz/en/budova/valdstejnska-jizdarna
Since 1921, Czech painter Josef Šíma, lived in France, where he became cofounder of the art group Le Grand Jeu (The Great Game). The members of the group were associated with Surrealists. The work of Josef Šíma is presented in the context of other French members of the group.
Our tip: after seeing the exhibition you can enjoy a walk in a beautiful historic garden - there is a direct access to it from the Wallestein Riding School.
5. Sound, codes, images – sound experiment in fine art
Stone Bell House (May 22 – October 13, 2019), Old Town Square
http://en.ghmp.cz/stone-bell-house/
This international art exhibition is focused on sound imaging from Avant-gard times up to the present. Different approaches to art experiments are presented by paintings, graphic scores, sound installations, acoustic objects, films and multi media projections. It also displays art works from Czech artist and founder of Abstract art, František Kupka, along with works from Bauhaus members, John Cage, Joe Jones, Fluxus movement and creative couple with Czech background - Woody and Stein Vasulka.
Our tip: The gallery is located in a Gothic building dating back to 13th century right on the Old Town Square. According to some historians, this is where Charles IV. Bohemian King and Holy Roman Emperor was born.
6. Crazy Silkworm. Zika & Lída Asher: Fabric and Fashion (February 15 – September 15, 2019)
Museum of Decorative Arts
Creative couple Zika and Lída Asher left Prague in 1939 and settled in London, where they founded a company specialising in experimental fabrics. They became famous for their luxurious silk square scarfs designed in collaboration with world-known artists including André Derain, Henri Matisse, Henri Moor, Alexander Calder or Cecil Beaton. Ashers’ fabrics were used by fashion houses such as Dior, Cardin, Y. S. Laurent and others. The venue hosting this exhibition - Museum of Decorative Arts - is worth visiting on its own for its beautiful and recently restored Neo-Renaissance interior.
Our tip: the museum is located right next to the Old Jewish Cemetery - and some windows of the museum offer unique picture taking spots of this mystic place.
7. Art of Glass (all year round 2019)
Portheimka
http://www.museumportheimka.cz/vystava/glass-as-art/
The Czech Republic is renowned for its crystal production. You can’t miss it while wandering the streets of Prague inside shop windows. In the second half of the 20th century the so called “studio glass“ followed this tradition and elevated glass-making into an independent art discipline comparable with sculpture or painting. Featured in this exhibit include the Czech creative duo Stanislav Libenský and Jaroslava Brychtová whose work you can find even in the St. Vitus Cathedral at the Prague Castle as well as American glass sculptor Dale Chihuli. Portheimka is the Baroque palace housing these stunning works of art and is the former summer house built by Bohemian Baroque architect Kilian Ignac Dietzenhofer for his own family.
Our tip: It’s 8 minutes by tram n. 12 from the Charles Bridge or 20 minute walking distance.
Author: Alzbeta Betty Petrinova