Matěj Pokorný - Kyselý

Matěj Pokorný (*1997) is a promising emerging painter whose work moves between raw expression and calculated brutality. This painting from 2021 comes from a formative period during his studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague, where he was shaping his visual language and experimenting with the motif of the head—an element that continues to appear throughout his practice.

His approach is defined by a tension between spontaneous gesture and controlled composition. The rough textures, aggressive brushwork, and layered color application create a piece that oscillates between chaos and clarity. Rather than pure abstraction or figuration, Pokorný navigates the space in between, using distortion and deconstruction to reinforce the emotional intensity of his work.

This painting was part of his first solo exhibition, presented as part of the PETRBLOK #2 series at HIDDEN Bořivojova from July 13 to August 2, 2021. Even in this early stage, his interest in the balance between form and destruction was evident—an approach he continues to refine in his current practice.