Gallery

Prague boasts a lively independent gallery scene. Even if art’s not your thing, the openings (vernisáž in Czech) are worth attending, just because they often turn into wild parties where you can get to know Prague’s hipster elite. The art scene here is small, and, faced with a perpetual lack of funding, artist-run spaces tend to open and close all the time – it’s always best to keep an ear open. www.prague.tv is a good place to monitor which places are hot, which are not. Below, you’ll find our guide to the hottest galleries of the moment.
Galerie Display – www.display.cz
Probably the longest running and the most popular of all independent galleries on the Czech scene, Display was started by four friends – two artists and two critics – who were all students at the time. They’ve managed to keep it going over the years on local funding alone – as a strictly nonprofit venture, they’re able to maintain a rigorous stance. Given the limitations of the space – two small rooms and an office – the focus here is mainly on conceptual art. They also host a pretty vibrant series of artist lectures and filmings.
Futura – www.futuraprojekt.com
There was a big to-do when this place opened its doors a few years ago. Situated in a seedy area of town, the building itself is an amazing piece of art. Housed in a former tobacco factory, the space was renovated by an international team of “art professionals” and given a finishing touch by local bad boy sculptor David Cerný, whose bent-over figures adorn the back of the building. This is definitely the independent gallery of the decade. They tend to show leading Czech contemporary artists, such as Jirí David and Marek Ther, as well as occasional shows by artists from abroad.
A.M. 180 – www.am180.org
One of the newest entries on the local gallery scene, A.M. 180 is run by a crew of young artists who are also music enthusiasts. In addition to holding exhibitions in the gallery, they also bring a lot of international indie rock bands to town via their booking agency. The exhibitions are all blink-and-you-miss-them – they last two weeks max, and the gallery’s opening hours are haphazard, to say the least, but the openings are pretty lively, and you get the impression that they’re the main point of the whole venture.
Galerie Jirí Svestka – www.jirisvestka.com
Svestka is one of the more controversial figures on the local art scene. For many years he was the only dealer who did business abroad – thus it was imperative to get him to represent you if you were an emerging Czech artist. That naturally has led to a lot of harsh feelings, which have since dissipated now that other galleries have opened up to compete with Svestka. Still, his name commands a certain amount of respect, and he’s the only local gallerist who has managed to show big international stars like Dieter Roth and Tony Cragg. His gallery, in a new location near the Florenc metro station, is definitely worth checking out.
Galerie Mánes – www.galeriemanes.cz
Once the most important gallery in Czechoslovakia, Galerie Mánes has since devolved into a pay-to-display space, like so many other formerly quality galleries in the Czech capital. Still, they often manage to show some interesting work. This is also the venue for such events as the annual art fair. The attached restaurant boasts a wonderful art collection and an affordable menu.
Gallery Art Factory – www.galleryartfactory.cz
Run by a pair of snotty Slovak women, Gallery Art Factory boasts an impressive location, right on Wenceslas Square. Housed in a former factory, the space certainly has a lot of potential – too bad it’s more often used as a hall for corporate suit-and-tie cocktail events, with the art merely meant as a conversation piece, rather than the center of attention. They do organize the annual Sculpture Grande event, which places large sculptures by Central European artists along Wenceslas Square, but you’re not likely to be admitted into one of their openings unless you’ve got corporate connections.
Hunt Kastner Artworks – www.huntkastner.com
Run by Camille Hunt and Katherine Kastner, both formerly affiliated with the Futura project (see above), Hunt Kastner Artworks is situated on a tiny side street off of Letná Park in the Holešovice district. A private gallery, they represent some of the Czech Republic’s top up-and-coming artists, including Josef Bolf, Veronika Bromová, Jan Kotík, Petr Nikl, Jan Serých, Jirí Skala, and Tomáš Vanek. It’s a brand new gallery, so it’s too soon to really predict what it will turn into. But it definitely has potential.
Langhans Galerie Praha – www.langhansgalerie.cz
With a prime location right off of Wenceslas Square, Langhans Galerie is the city’s top venue for contemporary photography exhibitions. Cindy Sherman, Diane Arbus, Nobuyoshi Araki – these are just some of the world-famous names who have been shown here. They also show a lot of the more famous Czech and Slovak photographers.
Skolská 28 – www.skolska28.cz
A self-declared “cultural, social and educational center in the heart of Prague,” the Skolská 28 space boasts a gallery, reading room, self-serve tearoom, and Wi-fi Internet access. In addition to organizing solo exhibitions by young Czech artists like Daniel Sperl, the gallery also hosts a variety of performances, seminars, and festivals. Tai chi and yoga courses are offered during the week, and the gallery is available for rental for special events.


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