Maria Bartuszová

In collaboration with Tate Modern, the Museum der Moderne Salzburg mounts the first exhibition in Austria of the work of Maria Bartuszová (Prague, CS, 1936–Košice, SK, 1996), an artist who devised innovative plaster casting techniques to define her distinctive vision of abstract sculpture. From raindrops to eggs and the human body, Bartuszová found inspiration in the organic shapes and cycles of nature.

Born in Prague, she spent much of her adult life in Košice, now Slovakia’s second-biggest city. Despite the challenges of life under a totalitarian system that offered precious few opportunities for women artists, Bartuszová forged a career that spanned three decades and created an outstanding oeuvre. Her tactile, sensual, and suggestive sculptures are informed by her personal experiences and her love of nature. Presenting her bronze casts and aluminum reliefs, many of which have never been seen in Austria, the exhibition offers a rare opportunity to discover the oeuvre of this underappreciated artist.