Galerie umění Karlovy Vary

About the museum

The Galerie umění in Karlovy Vary was established on 1 January 1953 by decision of the regional national committee and was one of the first state galleries in the country. It began its activity in April of that year with an exhibition of drawings and prints by Maxmilián Švabinský, and in November 1953 it opened its first permanent exhibition of Czech art. The building from 1911 had an exhibition hall on the first floor from the outset, so exhibitions were held in these rooms long before the gallery was founded.

In the 1990s the founding authority changed several times: from the district office the gallery passed to the Ministry of Culture and then to the regional office. Today it is run by the Karlovy Vary Region. Almost seven hundred exhibitions have been held in the main building, and more than two million visitors have come to the gallery.

The collections contain Czech art of the 20th century, from Symbolism and Post-Impressionism through Cubism, Surrealism and post-war abstraction to contemporary work. Represented are, for example, Antonín Slavíček, Jan Preisler, Josef Čapek, Emil Filla, Toyen, Jindřich Štyrský, Zdeněk Sýkora and Karel Nepraš. The main building also has the branches Becher Villa in Karlovy Vary and Letohrádek Ostrov in the château park of the town of Ostrov.

Highlights

• permanent exhibition of 20th-century Czech art “Sedm dekád”
• works by Slavíček, Preisler, Čapek, Filla, Toyen and Štyrský
• works by the group 12/15, Zdeněk Sýkora and Karel Nepraš
• Becher Villa, an Art Nouveau family residence from 1912
• Letohrádek Ostrov with a porcelain collection

Permanent exhibitions

• Sedm dekád / Galerie umění Karlovy Vary (1953–2023) – Permanent exhibition on the 70th anniversary of the gallery, presenting Czech art of the 20th century from the classics of modernism to contemporary artists, for example Slavíček, Preisler, Zrzavý, Čapek, Filla, Šíma, Sýkora and Nepraš.
• O historii Becherovy vily (pobočka Becherova vila) – Permanent exhibition with commentary on the history of the Art Nouveau villa that Gustav Becher had built in 1912.
• Stálá expozice porcelánu (pobočka Letohrádek Ostrov) – The exhibition on the second floor of the Ostrov lodge is devoted to porcelain.

Founded

1953

Operated by

Galerie umění Karlovy Vary, příspěvková organizace Karlovarského kraje

Admission & discounts

The reduced admission (50% discount) also applies to holders of ISIC, ITIC, Karlovy Vary Region Card, Senior pas and Cool pas cards and to members of some professional associations. Free admission is granted to children under 6, members of ICOM, UHS and AICA, staff of state and regional galleries, journalists and war veterans. In the branches of the gallery the family ticket costs CZK 60 per person.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The building is not step-free. The ground-floor halls are available by arrangement via a portable ramp over the outdoor steps. Exhibition halls and concerts on the first floor can be visited by prior arrangement, with staff assistance.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

For families there are the art workshops “Rodinná neděle s uměním” (Family Sunday with Art) and educational programmes for schools and the public.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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