Prague
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JIŘÍ SOPKO: RETROSPEKTIVA — Celebrating Decades of Figurative Art at Museum Kampa

Explore over a hundred paintings, watercolors, and drawings by Jiří Sopko spanning from 1968 to 2022.

The Jiří Sopko: Retrospektiva exhibition at Museum Kampa commemorates the artist's 80th birthday. Visitors can immerse themselves in his extensive body of work, featuring over a hundred paintings, watercolors, and drawings created between 1968 and 2022. This comprehensive display highlights Sopko's characteristic dense colors and distinctive figurative style, often infused with irony and sarcasm, offering a deep dive into his artistic journey.

About JIŘÍ SOPKO: RETROSPEKTIVA at Museum Kampa in Prague

Read curatorial context and practical visitor information for JIŘÍ SOPKO: RETROSPEKTIVA at Museum Kampa in Prague

Exhibition summary

This exhibition at Museum Kampa celebrates the 80th birthday of artist Jiří Sopko with over a hundred paintings and dozens of watercolors and drawings from 1968 to 2022. It is the artist's most comprehensive exhibition in fifteen years, showcasing his characteristic dense colors and figurative style, often imbued with irony and sarcasm.

Curatorial context

The exhibition "Jiří Sopko: A Retrospective" at Museum Kampa is held in honor of the painter's 80th birthday in 2022, presenting an extensive collection of over a hundred paintings and dozens of watercolors and drawings spanning from 1968 to 2022. This display marks the artist's most significant exhibition in Prague in fifteen years, covering the three floors of the museum. Jiří Sopko emerged during the challenging period of 'normalization' following the Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1968. Experiencing the cultural thaw of the 1960s as a student, he later faced restrictions, including a ban on exhibiting his work and removal from his teaching position at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague. Alongside peers like Jiří Načeradský and Rudolf Němec, Sopko found livelihood in art restoration. It wasn't until the 1980s that his own paintings began to gain recognition among collectors and the public, leading to increased exhibition opportunities in the late 1980s. He returned to the Academy of Fine Arts in 1990, eventually heading the painting studio until 2016 and serving as Rector from 2003 to 2010. Sopko's art is defined by its dense colors and focus on the human figure, characterized by a vibrant palette that, despite its intensity, often carries layers of irony and sarcasm, serving as a poignant commentary on his times.

Admission and ticket notes

This page does not contain specific ticketing information. Visitors are directed to the museum's general admission policies. The exhibition is organized by Museum Kampa in cooperation with Gema Gallery and features works from various collections.

JIŘÍ SOPKO: RETROSPEKTIVA key exhibition facts

Review exhibition status, schedule, venue context, and attribution details for JIŘÍ SOPKO: RETROSPEKTIVA at Museum Kampa in Prague

Venue
Museum Kampa
Current status
Open now
Exhibition schedule
From Mar 12, 2022
Artist line / attribution
Featuring works by Jiří Sopko, with curatorial contributions from Linda Sedláková and Jan Skřivánek, graphic design by Jan Zachariáš, and architectural design by Tomáš Džadoň. Production was managed by Adéla Petříčková.
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