As part of the Photo Saint Germain Festival (6–29 November 2025), the Centre tchèque de Paris, in collaboration with the Galerie Teleport from Prague, presents 'Joie et refuge' - a captivating group exhibition showcasing a new generation of Czech photographers exploring the dynamic interplay between joy and refuge in contemporary photography.
The exhibition celebrates the diversity of photographic approaches, blending documentary, fine art, and applied photography with influences from fashion, performance, and design. A special highlight is a scented sculpture by artist Martin Žák, created in collaboration with the Czech perfume house Pigmentarium, which adds a subtle olfactory layer to the visual experience.
Hana Knížová is a Czech-born photographic artist working between London and Prague. Her work explores themes of youth, identity, and interpersonal relationships, expressed through conceptual yet intimate portrait series. After completing her Master’s degree in Photography at the London College of Communication, she received the John Kobal New Work Award from the National Portrait Gallery London in 2013 for her portrait of twin sisters Elza and Nellie. In 2019, she was named Photographer of the Year at the Czech Grand Design Awards.
Among the featured artists is also Eliska Sky c/o PAVLEYE, a London-based Czech photographer presenting her acclaimed fine art series Vive Matisse! for the first time in Paris as large-scale prints - a vibrant homage to the color, form, and emotion of Henri Matisse, reinterpreted through the female gaze.
“Paris, I’m coming! I’ll be presenting my fine art series Vive Matisse!, which reinterprets the works of Henri Matisse through the female gaze - celebrating color, form, and emotion in a new light. ✨ For the first time, the series will be shown as large-scale prints, becoming a central focal point of the exhibition dedicated to contemporary Czech photography. If you’re in Paris, I would love to see you there - to share this beautiful evening of art, inspiration, and connection. 💙” - Eliska Sky
Also captivating are the collage works by Michaela Karásek ÄŒejková (*1989), a Prague-based photographer specializing in fashion, portrait, and still-life photography, who experiments with traditional hand-crafted collage techniques in her work.
All Artists
Martin Žák, creator of the scented wax sculpture
Located in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the Centre tchèque de Paris is steeped in historical significance: in this very building, the Czech National Council was founded in 1916 - the precursor to the future Czechoslovak government. Since its reopening in 1997, the Centre has served as a vibrant hub for cultural exchange between France and the Czech Republic, hosting exhibitions, concerts, and film screenings.
Centre tchèque de Paris
6.–29. November 2025
