Biography

Pavel Mrkus is an audiovisual artist who makes use of digital moving images and sound often in relation to specific space. He graduated from the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague. His later study of Religious Studies at the Charles University in Prague together with experience of four years teaching position at Toyama City Institute of Glass Art in Japan lead him to unique mixture of cultural paradigms within his work. After showing at 50th Venice Biennial in 2003 he participated in many group and solo shows around world. He was awarded a Personality of the Year 2012 for his exhibition Next Planet in The Brno House of Arts. Together with visual artist Daniel Hanzlik they established Time-Based Media studio at Faculty of Art and Design at J. E. Purkyne University in Usti nad Labem, where between 2015 and 2023 he became the dean of the faculty. Since 2023 he is active as a head curator of Signal Festival in Prague.

Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design, Prague, prof. Vladimír Kopecký

Polytechnic University, Stoke on Trent, England

Faculty of Theology, Charles University, Prague

Another Place. Schafhof Europaisches Kunstlerhaus, Freising, Germany

Science Friction. Gallery Jelení, Prague

Observatory. Gallery Caesar, Olomouc

Seeing Time. GASK, Kutna Hora (with Daniel Hanzlík)
Survival Rules. Zona Gallery, Szczecin, Poland (with Daniel Hanzlík)
Fading Codes. Schemnitz Gallery, Banská Stiavnica, Slovakia (with Tomáš Rafa)

Transformator. The New Stage, National Theatre, Prague
R.E.D.. Museum of Art, Olomouc

Processor. Gallery Alfa Košice
Another Time. Modern Art Gallery, Roudnice nad Labem

Radiolaria. Emil Filla Gallery, Ústí nad Labem

Great Render. Die Aktualität des Schönen..., Liberec

Next Planet. Pori Art Museum, Pori, Finland

Next Planet. House of Art, Brno

Space Walk. Galleria Contemporaneo, Mestre/Venice
Water Tales. Gallery Jeleni, Prague
Iris. Büro für Kunst, Dresden, Germany

F. A. Q.. Kunsthalle Dresden, Germany (+ Daniel Hanzlík)

Space Walk. House of Art, České Budějovice, Czech Republic

Seagull. Büro für Kunst, Dresden, Germany
Scanner. Kunstverein Viernheim, Germany
Shift. Gallery Jan Koniarek, Synagoga Trnava, Slovakia (+ Daniel Hanzlík)

A Prayer of PW20/LW. Kunstlerhaus Schloss Wiepersdorf, Germany
KotoPlay. Chromosome, Gallery for International Media Art, Berlin
Patterns. Daimaru Dept. Store, Osaka
Stray Currents. Mau Fine Art Gallery, Toyama (+ J. Hongo)

Fragmented. Gallery BAU, Toyama
A Prayer off. Büro für Kunst, Dresden, Germany
In Between. Gallery Enomoto, Osaka

Es fiel ein Reif. Atrium, Moravian Gallery, Brno

Unreacheable. Gallery by the White Unicorn, Klatovy

Power of Lace. Museum of Decorative Arts, Prague
Ráj je vždy jen věcí volby. Oblastní galerie Vysočiny, Jihlava

Cache. Gallery Rudolfinum, Prague
Plan B. Smetanova výtvarná Litomyšl
...a ptáci opět zpívají. Emil Filla Gallery, Ústí nad Labem

Krajina 0. Kvalitář Gallery, Prague
Inhabitated. House of Art, Ústí nad Labem
Lungomare. European City of Culture, Rijeka, Croatia

Sounds, Codes, Images. Prague City Gallery
Boudník. Moravian Gallery, Brno
Kosmos. Gallery U bílého jednorožce, Klatovy

Minimal Difference. Kvalitář Gallery, Prague
Mo(nu)mental Topography. Ústi nad Labem
Energy of first Line. Gallery of Modern Art Hradec Králové

Inner Image. Appearing/Dissapearing Images. Galeria Arsenal Bialystok, Poland
Signal Festival, Prague
Interiors of the Soul. Western Bohemian Gallery Plzeň

Space. Gallery NOD, Prague
Frontiers of Solitude. Gallery Školská 28, Prague
Skaftfell Art Center, Seydisfjordur, Island
Epiphany. House of Art Usti nad Labem
3x2 pro klášter. Broumov Monastery, Broumov
Ze středu ven. Umění regionů 1985–2010. Kunsthalle/Hala umenia Košice
Breaking out of Dilemma. Rotor Centre for Contemporary Art, Graz
Rekurze 1.618, Video versus film. Oblastní Galerie Liberec

Arte Laguna Prize, Telecom Italia Future Centre, Arsenale, Venezia
Exakta. Galerie NoD, Praha
Jak nic nechtít? Festival 4+4 Days in Motion. Prague
3x2 pro klášter. Broumov Monastery, Broumov
Ze středu ven. Umění regionů 1985–2010. Kunsthalle/Hala umenia Košice
Breaking out of Dilemma. Rotor Centre for Contemporary Art, Graz
Rekurze 1.618, Video versus film. Oblastní Galerie Liberec

Awaking Dragon, National Gallery, Prague
Rekurze 1.618. Liberec Regional Gallery, Liberec

Problem is Here. 4+4 dny v pohybu, Prague
Social Design. Emil Filla Gallery, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
Doteky hudby / Touches of Music. North Bohemian Gallery of Fine Arts, Litoměřice
Fußnoten zum Aufbruch. Motorenhalle, Dresden, Germany

Geometrův zlý sen. Topičův salon, Prague
CAMP 12. International Festival for Visual Music, Württenbergischer Kunstverein Stuttgart, Germany
Play Well. Czech Center, New York
Sinnesrausch. OK Offenes Kulturhaus Linz, Austria
Future, Landscape. Parco del Contemporaneo, Venice, Italy
Generator. Emil Filla Gallery, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic

Edge Park. Forte Marghera, Venice
Parallel History. North Bohemian Gallery of Fine Arts, Litoměřice
Rhytmic Exercises. BWA Sokol, Nowy Sacz, Poland
Scheinbar Sein, Faktisches und Virtuelles. Altana Gallery, Dresden

Formate der Transformation 89–09. Museum auf Abruf – MUSA, Vienna, Austria
Play. Mánes, Prague
One Day You Will Lose It All. 4+4 dny v pohybu, ULUV, Prague
Fertile Ground. Museum of Glass, Tacoma
A Part of No-Part. Chelsea Art Museum, New York

Moving Artist. Motorenhalle, Dresden
Labyrinth of Light. Ecotechnical Muzeum, Prague
Place in Heart. Emil Filla Gallery, Ústí nad Labem
Hell of Things. Galerie Kronika, Bytom, Poland

Once is Nothing. Brussels Biennial, Brussels
Obraz, komunikace, styl, funkce, koncept. Veletržní palác, National Gallery, Prague
Spiknutí. Emil Filla Gallery, Ústí nad Labem
Place In Heart. Galeria Arsenal, Bialystok, Poland
Be A Happy Worker: Work-To-Rule! Galerija Miroslav Kraljevic, Zagreb
Close Encounters. Fine Arts Center Galleries, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, US

New Video Art from Central Europe. RISD Museum, Providence, US

New Mystics. Sala de Arte Contemporaneo, Tenerife, Canary Islands
Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale. Niigata, Art Front Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
Modern Time Work, Machineries and Automation in the Arts of 1900. Palazzo Ducale, Genova
Frisbee. Contemporary Czech Video and Media Art, House of Art, Brno
The Destiny of Paradise is in its Geometry. Kunstverein KISS, Untergroningen, Germany
ArteFiera. Bologna, Italy
Arco. Madrid, Spain

Helden Heute. Centre PasquArt, Biel Bienne, Switzerland
Roboter. Opelvillen Rüsselsheim, Germany
Der Rote Teppich. Kunstverein KISS, Untergroningen, Germany
Captured in Light and Space. EXPO 2005, Shimin Plaza Gallery, Toyama, Japan
Vladimir Kopecky and his Sphere. Chappell Gallery, New York

Sputniza. Kunsthaus, Dresden
Loop 04. Videoart Festival, Barcelona
Frisbee: Contemporary Czech Video Art. MNAC, Bucurest, Romania
Paralel Projections. House of Art, Opava, Czech Republic
Individual Systems. Museo Archeologico, Potenza, Italy
Art Brussel. Belgium
The International Exhibition of Glass. Kanazawa
Hot Destination/Marginal Destiny. House of Art, Brno, Czech Republic
Video Programm of BDV Paris. Georges, Centre Pompidou, Paris

Individual Systems. La Biennale di Venezia, Arsenale, Venice
Mission Possible. 1st Prague Biennale, National Gallery, Prague
Another Movement. Kanazawa, Japan
Glass Works 2003. Art Gallery Shimin Plaza, Toyama
Vessels. Koganezaki Crystal Park, Koganezaki

IV. Biennial of Young Artists. Gallery of Prague City
Monochromy in Czech Art of the 90ties. Czech Museum of Fine Art, Prague
Walking. Gallery Skuc, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Japan Contemporary Glass Exhibition. Notojima

KK. House of Art, Opava

Melancholy. Moravian Gallery, Brno
Unclear Evidence. House of Art, České Budějovice
2nd Zlin Show of Young Artists. State Gallery, Zlín
Via 2000. Gallery Via Art, Prague

Art for Hospital. V. Spala Gallery, Prague
K nebi. Gallery Stemberk, Šternberk
KK. Slovak National Gallery, Bratislava
L`arte contemporana Ceca. Palazzo Coen, Salo, Italy
Laboratory. Gallery Sypka, Vlkov u Brna

Power of Lace. Exhibition architecture, Museum of Decorative Arts, Prague

Josef Svoboda - scénograf. Exhibition architecture, videos, interactivity, Gallery of Central Bohemian Region, Kutná Hora
Comenius 1592 - 1670. Exhibition videography, Jízdárna, Prague Castle

Ascher, The Mad Silkman. Exhibition architecture and videos, Museum of Decorative Arts, Prague

Kupka. Exhibition videos, National Gallery Prague

Vně a uvnitř. Exhibition architecture and videos, Museum of Decorative Arts, Prague

Indikátor. Permanent data video installation for Czech Statistical Office, Prague
Exposition of Astronomy. 12 videos for the National Technical Museum, Prague

Neuron. Light object for Faculty of Art and Design at J. E. Purkyně University, Ústí nad Labem

Czech Center. Brussels

Gallery of the Central Bohemian Region
Museum of Decorative Arts Prague
Prague City Gallery
Center for Contemporary Arts Prague
Anita Beckers Gallery Frankfurt
Toyama City Collection
Glass Museum Notojima
Crystal Park Koganezaki
Other private collections

International Glass Symposium, Crystalex Novy Bor, Czech Republic

Near The Beginning, Center For Metamedia, Plasy, Czech Republic

Künstlerhaus Schloss Wiepersdorf, Germany

Osobnost roku 2012 / Personality of the Year 2012, Art and Antiques, Prague

Honorable Mention, Vessels, Koganezaki, Japan

Silver Prize, Japan Contemporary Glass Art, Glass Museum, Notojima, Japan
Honorable Mention, Contemporary Glass Triennial, Toyama, Japan

Time-Based Media Studio at Faculty of Art and Design at J. E. Purkyně University, Ústí nad Labem

Artcrossing: Art (in) Motion, Developing art-educational program for National Gallery Prague

Faculty in Glass and Digital Media depts. at Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, US

Teaching Assistant at Studio of Digital Media at Liberec University of Technology, Czech Republic

Visiting Associate Professor at Toyama City Institute of Glass Art, Toyama, Japan

Teaching Assistant in Glass Studio at Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague