Come join us in celebrating the vibrant spring art season at the National Gallery Prague! Starting on 27 March 2025, two remarkable exhibitions will be showcased at the Trade Fair Palace. The first exhibition is titled Silent Spring: art and nature 1930-1970. This exhibition primarily highlights Czechoslovak sculpture from this fascinating era. The artworks on display showcase the connection between people and the natural world during the time frame from the 1930s to the early normalization period. This project emphasizes the exploration of organic abstract forms within sculptural pieces, a concept that gained prominence through Surrealism before World War II and later influenced the sculpture of the 1960s. The name of the exhibition is inspired by the influential book by Rachel Carson, which was one of the first to discuss the harmful effects of pesticide use on our environment. Visitors can view this exhibition until 31 August 2025.
The second project, titled Echoes: Eva Kot’áátková, follows the exhibition The heart of a captive giraffe is twelve kilos lighter, which represented the Czech Republic at the 60th Venice Biennale of Art (2024). This exhibition draws on the dramatic story of the first Czechoslovak giraffe named Lenka, who was captured in the wilds of Africa. Sadly, Lenka lived in captivity for only two years before her body was donated to the collections of the National Museum in Prague. In the museum’s preparation workshops, her remains were treated in such a way that only her skin remained, while her insides were reportedly disposed of down a public sewer. This exhibition explores the concept of captivity as a form of violence as well as the potential pathways to healing and restitution. Within a massive tunnel that symbolizes the neck of an animal in the extremely defenseless position of sleeping, different chapters of Lena’s life are revealed. The exhibition will be open at the Trade Fair Palace until 27 July 2025.
Graphic Cabinet on the 2nd floor The exhibition covering 1939-2021: The End of the Black and White Era will feature Touches of the Present – Artists of the UB 12 creative group. This exhibition will be available from 28 March to 26 June 2025. Entry is free to all the collection exhibitions in the Trade Fair Palace. You can also explore our permanent exhibitions including 1796-1918: Art of the Long Century, 1918-1938: The First Republic, 1939-2021: The End of the Black and White Age, 1956-1989: Architecture for All, and Atlas (Atelier of Creation and Laboratory of Associative Dreaming) that will be waiting for your visit;
Spring Opening 2025 — National Gallery Prague
Date & Time: Thursday, 27 March 2025 • 19:00–22:00
Location: Trade Fair Palace (Veletržní palác)
Admission: Free entry to the Spring Opening event and all exhibitions at the Trade Fair Palace
Featured Exhibitions
| Exhibition | Dates | Overview |
|---|---|---|
| Silent Spring: Art and Nature 1930–1970 | 27 Mar – 31 Aug 2025 | A thematic survey exploring artists’ responses to the natural world between the interwar period and the dawn of environmental awareness. |
| Echoes of the Venice Biennale: Eva Kot’atková | 27 Mar – TBD | A solo presentation of Kot’atková’s provocative installations, originally showcased at the Venice Biennale. |
| New Permanent Collection: Czech Art 1939–2021 | Opening 27 Mar 2025 | A comprehensive, ideologically unbiased overview of Czech art across eight decades. |
Highlights of the Evening
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Free guided tours of all exhibitions
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Artist talks and curator-led discussions
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Live music performance in the foyer
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Refreshments available
Celebrate the arrival of spring and dive into thought‑provoking art—completely free of charge!
