Where to See Modern Art

The Czech Republic is home to an exceptional amount of museums and galleries. You will find more than 700 of them here. Some galleries are first-class institutions focusing on medieval art, others prefer to exhibit works of art that, figuratively speaking, have not had a chance to properly dry. Today, we will present museums and galleries where you can find installations of modern and contemporary art, where you can take part in private openings, and which attract visitors of all ages to soak up the atmosphere of the artistic world. You will be surprised by the large and often unusual exhibition spaces, as well as by cafés, gallery shops and remarkable installations.

Prague – the centre of culture

Prague has been the cultural centre of the Czech lands since time immemorial. Even today, the city houses the largest number of galleries and museums throughout the country. The interesting and curatorially daring Prague City Gallery exhibits contemporary art in several of its buildings including the Stone Bell House at the Old Town Square, on the second floor of the Municipal Library, in the House of Photography, and also seasonally at Troja Chateau.

DOX Centre for Contemporary Art

The DOX Centre for Contemporary Art in Prague Holešovice is an independent stage where artists across all disciplines and genres display their work. It is also a platform that enables the presentation of Czech and international architects, designers and creative artists. It is easily recognisable, with the amazing Gulliver airship on its roof. Exhibitions are presented in the unique multifunctional space which is also one of the most interesting architectural projects of recent years. The manifold spectrum of events includes exhibitions, guided tours, lectures, panel discussions, performances and family and educational programmes.

Kampa Museum

The phenomenal collection of modern Central European art, managed by the Jan and Meda Mládek Foundation, can be enjoyed at the Kampa Museum located in the Sova’s Mill complex on Kampa Island on the bank of the Vltava River. The museum takes care of the extensive collections of two icons in the history of the 20th century art – František Kupka, a pioneer of abstraction, and Czech sculptor Otto Gutfreund, as well as other gems of prominent artists. In addition, the museum also organises a number of short-term exhibitions featuring both domestic and foreign artists.

Rudolfinum Gallery

The Rudolfinum Gallery focusing on large exhibition projects, of mostly contemporary art, can be found at Jan Palach Square. It shares the historic neo-renaissance building of Rudolfinum in the Old Town with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. It is a so-called kunsthalle, or a gallery founded on the basis of the concept of organising temporary exhibitions without a permanent exposition. In addition to the exhibition halls, there is also an educational space for both children and adults alike called Artpark, which is full of interactive project and interesting information about the world of art.

Trade Fair Palace

While exploring modern art in Prague, you cannot miss the National Gallery offer within the functionalist Fair Trade Palace, where an extensive collection of works by Czech and foreign artists can be seen. The permanent exhibition consists of several sections: 1796-1918: Collection of the 19th Century Art, 1918-1938: The First Republic, and 1930 – present: Czech Modern Art. Even though these are permanent exhibitions, the National Gallery is constantly purchasing new works of art, so you have the opportunity to learn about contemporary art world today. There are also short-term exhibitions of leading contemporary world artists in the Fair Trade Palace. the unique space of Café Jedna can be enjoyed when you need to take a break. Moreover, children and young people under 26 years of age can visit the National Gallery for free throughout the year.

GASK in Kutná Hora

The second largest gallery in the Czech Republic can be found on the premises of a large, sensitively reconstructed baroque building of the former Jesuit College in Kutná Hora near Prague. GASK – the Gallery of the Central Bohemian Region – mainly focuses on visual art of the 20th and 21st centuries. It offers a friendly gallery space on an area exceeding 3,000 m², inspired by the concept of world’s most famous galleries such as the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris and the Tate Modern in London. When visiting the gallery, do not miss the permanent State of Mind exposition, which reflects the state of mind of a person who is at the birth of the presented works (such as anxiety, loneliness, spirituality, memory and contemplation). The gallery also organises contemporary art exhibitions and other changing exhibitions.

Aleš South Bohemian Gallery at Hluboká Chateau

The Aleš South Bohemian Gallery, based at Hluboká Chateau in South Bohemia, is an art and history museum, one of the largest of its kind in the Czech Republic. There are numerous collected art pieces from the 16th to 18th century, as well as spaces for exhibitions of contemporary art exhibitions.

Regional Art Gallery in Liberec

The Regional Art Gallery in North Bohemian Liberec is a specialised art museum dedicated to the region of North Bohemia. It takes care of extensive art collections and offers visitors a tour of four permanent expositions of European and Czech art. One of them is the collection of 20th century Czech art, where you can see the works of impressionists or cubists, as well as regional modern art created after WWII.

GVUO in Ostrava

The Gallery of Fine Arts in Ostrava is one of the five most important collecting institutions in the Czech Republic. The exhibition spaces are in the functionalist building of the House of Art. At present, the gallery primarily houses expositions of the collections of 19th and 20th century Czech paintings, and 20th century sculpture. However, you can also find graphic collections of modern European art. The gallery also owns one of the most important paintings of the 20th century, Judith, a work by Gustav Klimt.

Kupe Art Gallery in Opava

The Kupe Art Gallery can be found in Opava, a town located in the Czech part of Silesia to the east of the Czech Republic. It is a cultural and artistic space where contemporary culture and art meet across genres. The interiors of a former water tower near the Opava train station organises short-term exhibitions of contemporary art as well as a permanent exposition dedicated to famous artist Kurt Gebauer.

Fait Gallery in Brno

The Fait Gallery in South Moravian Brno is a new private gallery institution. The gallery not only organises regular events, but also promotes the development of contemporary art. The Fait Gallery is additionally home to the excellent Mutter Café, a workshop for artists and an art bookshop.

The Závodný Gallery in Mikulov

The Závodný Gallery is a private gallery in the historic centre of South Moravian Mikulov. The house that the gallery occupies is itself a work of art. The building is covered by huge blocks of white limestone from the ground to the top of the roof. Even though the building is so distinctive, it still perfectly fits within the historic centre of the town. The exhibition programme includes authors’ exhibitions of excellent Czech and foreign artists, especially those from Slovakia and Central Europe. The gallery cooperates with national institutions and private subjects, and its artistic events are often accompanied by concerts.