Jan Merta

Jan Merta, born in 1952 in Sumperku, currently lives and works in Prague. He pursued his education in art at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague from 1981 to 1987. 

Jan Merta's Art Style

Jan Merta's distinctive visual style is deeply rooted in his personal memory, transforming real-world subjects into specific projections of his experiences. This sincere approach is intense and truthful, making it highly communicative with the viewer. Merta often selects subjects that lie on the periphery of ordinary attention but hold significant personal importance. By removing these subjects from their original context and processing them freely, he imbues them with new meanings.

In his artworks, Merta showcases the pure essence of seemingly ordinary objects on a monumental scale, employing unconventional spatial structures. This approach imbues his paintings with a peculiar tension, sometimes heightened by the nuanced use of light and the unconventional interplay between object and space. In certain pieces, an accentuated background creates an illusion of depth, further enriching the visual experience.

Exhibitions of Merta's Works

Merta has had numerous notable solo exhibitions, including "The Volunteer" at Galerie Martin Janda in Vienna (2022), "Dear Jan! For Jana and Jiří Ševčík with love" at Galerie Zdeněk Sklenář in Prague (2022), and "Menu" at SVIT in Prague (2021). Other solo shows have been held at various galleries, including Galerie Rüdiger Schöttle in Munich, Fait Gallery in Brno, Museum Kampa in Prague, Galerie U Rytíře in Liberec, and many more. 

Jan Merta has also participated in group exhibitions, including "Jan MERTA – Petr VESELÝ" at Museum Kampa in Prague (2024), "Le Dernier des 8 Solitaires" at Galerie Martin Janda in Vienna (2022), "Portraits" at Galerie Rüdiger Schöttle in Munich (2021), "Byt Sbĕratele" at 8SMIČKA in Humpolec (2020), amog others.