The work of Adriena Šimotová (1926–2014) is rightly considered a significant contribution to Czech modern art. As a respected artist, she has been featured in many important group and solo exhibitions. This time, we would like to highlight her early work, spanning roughly from 1963 to the turn of the next decade.

At that time, Šimotová was rapidly refining her artistic vision and discovering distinctive creative principles that would remain a constant presence in her work. These include, above all, the courage not to succumb to the dictates of prevailing opinion, energy, a rejection of stereotypes, and the exploration of themes of intimacy and physicality. She was going through a happy period at the time—both in her personal life and in the vibrant cultural environment that provided her with inspiring stimuli. As she later remarked: “…we all thought we still had tomorrow ahead of us.“

For this reason, we deliberately conclude this selection of works with the year 1970, when, at the Špála Gallery, she exhibited a series of paintings from the previous two years to great acclaim. Her work calls for careful observation. That is precisely why we interpret it differently and, through new, previously overlooked yet important contexts, broaden our understanding of her body of work.