Installations & Emotions: Prague

I love stepping into art galleries in different cities I visit. They all seem to have their own emotions, their own soul, their own persona, defined by the art they host, as dingy awnings lead into spacious rooms with pristine white walls sporting pops of color. More than a museum cherishing relics of the past, galleries often honor the present and the future. They are home to new creatives with novel visions splattering their imaginative reality in a multitude of mediums, established artists having found their niche, letting their passions grow, and the occasional classic going for an exorbitant sum.

In the bustling capital of the Czech Republic lie many hidden treasures. Countless movies have been shot in the picturesque European streets ripe with history in place where tourists haven’t managed to cloud the old world charm. The city is a metropolis embracing the old to showcase the new.

Each gallery has its own unique aesthetic, some are crowded filled to the brim with paintings, while others are bare and minimal, allowing the light to fall on carefully selected pristine pieces. Their respective personas allow for a more nuanced, complete understanding of the dynamic city.

The images above are of modern art pieces in a contemporary gallery in the heart of the city.

This was a storefront off the beaten path in Prague, surrounding by old brick and clay buildings in an array of vibrant shades of beige.

One of my personal favorite pieces is featured in this shop window. It’s part of local Dima Dimitriev's Poppies series, based on the theme of childhood and the red poppies that grow in the Czech Republic. Dima creates idealistic, impressionistic works, dubbing his paintings depictions of “visual paradise.”

Each gallery invokes emotion as we associate different works with specific memories or feelings. Visiting these spots allows for a greater connection to the city and to the self.