Mária Bartuszová is one artist of many whose work lives on long past their time of passing. The Slovakian sculptor is best known for her abstract plaster sculptures, which perfectly emulate a number of emotions we as humans experience.
Her latest exhibition will be taking place at the
TATE MODERN. This exhibition follows her white plaster theme with organic yet fragile shapes. The piece was created in 1985, yet it weirdly feels relevant to this day and age. The sculptures offer a reminder to those viewing them that we are surrounded by such fragile beauty in nature and that we must protect it.
From the early 1950s through to the 1960s, Maria studied at both the Higher School of Applied Arts and the Academy of Arts, Architecture, and Design in Prague. Following this, she moved with her husband to Slovakia, where she would continue to create her pieces up until her passing.
‘Perfection of the form’ … Untitled 1985 by Maria Bartuszová. Photograph: Lucy Dawkins & Joe Humphrys/© Tate
Maria’s artwork has been displayed all around the world in Prague, Venice, Paris, and Slovakia. Her first recorded exhibition happened back in 1966 when she was just 30 years old.
Maria was a part of the Concretists’ Club when she was creating her artwork. Despite the robust-sounding title, this club inspired her to create 500 of her delicate sculptures. Her method of creation was truly unique, with a lot of the plaster being submerged in water, cast around balloons, and stretching the plaster until it was almost transparent.
The TATE exhibition is a rarity as her work is rarely shown in the UK. The exhibition will display images of her pieces which she captured herself as she would occasionally experiment with the outdoors when photographing her pieces. These images are striking and emphasise the link to nature and its ability to be both hardy and delicate.
Mária Bartuszová’s works were displayed in Warsaw, Poland. (Source: Soňa Bartuszová)
To truly immerse yourself in Maria’s work we suggest you take a guided tour. Learn about the exhibition’s topics, the artist’s life, and some of Maria Bartuszová’s most well-known pieces.
Patrons of art should be recognised as without them most artists and their work would never see the light of day in Maria’s case the following people and institutions have made this exhibition possible – Acquavella Galleries, Alison Jacques, Amy Gold and Brett Gorvy, Chloe Joseph, Danica Matáková, Edward Lee and
The Wagner Foundation.
