Women in Focus: Míla Fürstová

Czech Centre’s Women in Focus series continues before the summer with a talk by the internationally acclaimed Czech-British artist Míla Fürstová.

During her talk, Míla will share her journey from communist Czechoslovakia to the United Kingdom, and her professional transition to art. She will discuss the challenges she encountered during her studies and early stages of her professional artistic career, her collaboration with Coldplay’s Chris Martin and the influence motherhood has had on her artistic work. Last but not least, Míla will talk about her most recent exhibition projects in Czechia and her work in public spaces in London.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT:

‚My work is an intimate portrayal of the human soul explored through the medium of etching, expressed in a distinctly female voice.

The content is inspired by universal and personal mythologies. The work is poetic and often narrative in its nature and reads as both contemporary and timeless. I cut, fold and overlay my works, often printing on glass or other transparent surfaces thus creating imagery that is multidimensional in terms of both form and meaning.

The feminine voice of my work is tactile and urgent, fragile yet strong, gentle yet enquiring. At times it floats weightlessly above the labyrinth of being a woman at other times it delves into the darkest corners of the female psyche.

The technique of etching uniquely reflects and informs the spirit of my work. I draw with a needle onto a plate, allowing the image to quietly grow, whilst a fragile silver line emerges from a dark background as if a distant memory was traced from the unconscious. The initial image undergoes metamorphosis as the alchemical process of etching progresses through each of its stages.‘
–  Míla Fürstová

Admission: £5 (+ Eventbrite fee)

ABOUT MÍLA FÜRSTOVÁ

Over the past decade Míla Fürstová has exhibited in over 20 solo shows in many countries including Britain, the USA, France and the Czech Republic. During this time she has won numerous awards and her work has featured in many international publications. Prestigious private and public collections including the Royal Collection, the V&A and The Museum of London have acquired her work.

Born in Czechoslovakia, Fürstová gained an MA degree in Art, English Language and Psychology at the Charles University in Prague whilst simultaneously studying for her BA degree in Fine Art Printmaking at the University of Gloucestershire. In 2001, Fürstová received her Masters degree at the Royal College of Art and has subsequently lectured at Coventry University and The University of Gloucestershire

In 2014 Fürstová’s work reached over 400 million people when she was commissioned to make the artwork for Coldplay’s Ghost Stories album and four singles. In 2015 the sale of her Coldplay artwork raised over £100,000 in aid of children’s charities.

The largest retrospective of Míla Fürstová’s work to date is currently on show at The Museum of Easter Bohemia in Hradec Králové, a city Míla grew up in. The Secret of Subtleties or Homecomings (Taj jemnosti aneb Návraty domů) remains open till 27 October 2024.

Míla’s large-scale installation ‚Motherhood‘ can be found in London’s Marylebone Road, commemorating the old Queen Charlotte’s Lying-In Hospital, one of the first hospitals to provide medical care to unmarried women. Míla won Westminster City Council’s competition for the commission of the work.

Míla Fürstová currently lives and works in Cheltenham.

The event is part of the Women in Focus series introducing inspiring female personalities and their accomplished professional journeys. Organised by Czech Centre London.