Paravan 53

Ira Svobodová is among the most prominent figures of contemporary Czech non-figurative painting. Her work is characterized by conceptual sophistication, utmost focus, precision, and a reduced yet sensitively nuanced palette. Words such as purity, order, or illusion best capture the nature of her canvases, which appear as layered or cut sheets of paper, though in fact they are paintings with illusory geometric modeling. One of her enduring sources of inspiration is modern architecture and its formal language, to which she was drawn during her residency in Rio de Janeiro and through the work of Oscar Niemeyer. Paravan 53 comes from the cycle of the same name, first presented in 2019 at Trafo Gallery. Here, the screen becomes a symbol of intimacy, protection, and a certain mystery. Its variability, combined with a deeper philosophical dimension, provided the artist with a space for highly personal artistic exploration. Svobodová has held numerous solo and group exhibitions, and her work is represented in a range of private collections both in the Czech Republic and abroad.