Current Exhibitions
In Pilsen, there’s an array of active art schools. As part of the University of West Bohemia, you’ll find the Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Design and Art, where many Czech artists do their work. Their creations are then displayed in a number of galleries you’ll find here. All of them are located in the centre of the city. Amongst the most significant rank the Gallery of West Bohemia, the Pilsen Municipal Gallery, the Gallery of Jiří Trnka, and the Gallery of Ladislav Sutnar. The Museum of West Bohemia and DEPO2015 also hold interesting exhibits for the general public. Check out our overview of current exhibits in galleries and museums in the city of Pilsen.
West Point 2023 (until 4 June)
You can see the work of six younger, middle-aged authors who focus on the traditional mediums of drawing, painting, and sculpting, and whose creation was helped formed by the area of Pilsen and South-West Bohemia, at the Pilsen Municipal Gallery. The exhibition brings attention to this West-Bohemian city’s influence on the current art scene. Its name also refers to the most well-known American military academy, founded in the state of New York in 1802. This was the school attended by General George S. Patton, who liberated West Bohemia, including Pilsen, with the 3rd US Army during WWII.
Secrets of the Earth – Discoveries from the Genizahs of Bohemian and Moravian Synagogues (until 25 June)
“Genizah” refers to the tradition of storing retired texts and objects of the Jewish community, as well as spaces where discarded objects are stored, and they gradually disintegrate. The space often used for this custom was the synagogue floor. Now you can see these treasures from the earth of Bohemian and Moravian synagogues at the Museum of West Bohemia. Aside from the textual relics, you’ll also view synagogue textiles such as swaddling wraps and veils for the Torah, prayer cloaks, prayer straps, the remains of candles, candlesticks, and snuffers as well as dishes and ordinary shoes.
Golden Years. Fin de Siècle Art from the Collections of the Gallery of West Bohemia in Pilsen (until 3 September)
You can see the best of Czech art from the Fin de Siècle era, also known as the time around the turn of the 19th and 20th century, at the Masné krámy gallery. This period belongs to the particularly stormy and dynamic stages in the development of visual arts. It was a time when completely new themes emerged and new artistic trends, including symbolism, Art Nouveau, and impressionism were on the rise. The Gallery of West Bohemian in Pilsen has valuable works in its collections by artists of that time, such as Alfons Mucha, Vojtěch Hynais, Václav Brožík, Luděk Marold, Maxmilián Pirner, Jan Preisler, František Kupka, and Max Švabinský.
A Fascination with Santini (until 29 October)
Jan Blažej Santini-Aichel was a Czech Baroque architect, famous for his unique style known as “Baroque Gothic”. For instance, you can see his work at the Provostry in Mariánská Týnice or the monastery in Plasy. The Museum of West Bohemia is commemorating this year’s 300th anniversary since the death of this brilliant artist. Inspired by Santini, the exhibit in the Summer Refectory of Pilsen’s Diocese’s Museum of Ecclesiastical Art will present the jewellery creation of two University of West Bohemia graduates, Miroslava Veselá and Veronika Gocová Pouzarová, as well as that of current students attending the Metal and Jewellery Studio at the Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Design and Art. The exhibit’s accompanying event will then display how Santini drew the creator’s fascination in other artistic areas.
The Invertebrates Around Us (until 3 March 2024)
The exhibit The Invertebrates Around Us (Bezobratlí kolem nas) at the Museum of West Bohemia in Pilsen will take you into the world of bumblebees, beetles, butterflies, and many other insects. Besides the entomological collection, you’ll also find living specimens here. For instance, you’ll learn that you can keep water beetles in a tank, peer into a bumblebee’s nest, and learn how to make an insect home. A children’s corner has also been prepared for smaller guests, where they can draw, play a card-matching game, and assemble puzzles.
