Karel Štědrý is a Czech painter whose work brings together geometry, playfulness and digital technologies. After studying advertising graphics at the Václav Hollar College of Art, he entered the painting studio of Stanislav Diviš at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague, and in 2010 received the ARSkontakt Award for young artists. His paintings reflect his background in graffiti and breakdance, an interest in the avant-garde, and minimalist/constructivist elements, paired with a bold colour palette and a wide range of media (acrylic, pastel, spray paint and his own black charcoal). Alongside painting he also creates sculpture—such as the Merkur series, where precision meets play and tradition meets modern technology—and he often uses the computer already in the early stages of making, echoing a generation shaped by digital media. His ability to unite order and rationality with emotion resonated with Stanislav Kolíbal, who chose him as his student; since his first solo show ARCHITECTURE (Gallery 35m², 2006), Štědrý has presented more than 20 solo projects and taken part in numerous group exhibitions in Czechia and abroad.
