Jan Štulíř

About

Jan Štulíř's work revolves around the complexity of human existence. Through intuitive figuration, he explores themes such as personal identity, societal roles, and interpersonal relationships. His practice begins with a strong emotional impulse, which unfolds into narrative fragments — stories that remain unresolved, inviting open interpretation and emotional resonance.

His paintings are suspended in a timeless, symbolic space, detached from specific historical contexts. Štulíř frequently depicts archetypal figures like brides, boxers, clowns, priests, or soldiers — each representing a facet of the human condition. These characters are often placed within enigmatic landscapes, which act as a kind of higher authority, framing the figure’s presence and imbuing the scene with existential weight.

In recent years, Štulíř has shared a dialogue with fellow artist Matěj Pokorný, with whom he studied in the studio of Jiří Petrbok at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague. Their collaborative exhibition Shake Off the Skin highlighted their mutual interest in deformation, banality, and emotional sincerity — a visual language suspended between figuration and abstraction, where form is constantly questioned and reframed.

Štulíř sees painting as a site of reflection and sensitivity — a moment of stillness amidst the noise of the present.

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