World-renowned Spanish sculptor Jaume Plensa has unveiled his new permanent sculpture NEST in Prague, installed at the Bořislavka intersection near Evropská Avenue in front of the Artium art space.

The 4.5-metre bronze and white-painted work marks a rare example of a major international public artwork permanently placed in the Czech capital.

The installation was initiated by Valea Art and is intended to bring a moment of calm to one of Prague’s busiest transport corridors.

Plensa, born in Barcelona in 1955, is known for large-scale public sculptures installed in cities including Chicago, London, Madrid, Jersey City and Taipei. His works often explore the human figure and perception in urban space. Prague previously hosted his work during an exhibition at Jan Palach Square in 2009.

“I wanted to create a symbolic bridge between the building and society,” Plensa said about the project.

NEST depicts an elongated girl’s head held in a pair of human hands. The figure, a signature motif in Plensa’s work, is designed to shift in perception depending on distance — appearing unified from afar and more fragile up close.

The artist describes the head as a space of thought, dreams and imagination.

Curator Linda K. Sedláková from Valea Art said the sculpture reflects both protection and vulnerability, comparing the figure to “a fragile bird resting in the palms.”

The installation is part of the broader Artium cultural space at Bořislavka, developed by Štěpánka and Karel Komárek through Valea Art. The site already features works by artists including Federico Díaz and Maxim Velčovský, aiming to integrate contemporary art into everyday public space.

According to the founders, the goal is to create a place where art becomes part of the city’s daily experience rather than something separate or distant.

Plensa is among the most internationally recognised contemporary sculptors, awarded Spain’s Velázquez Prize for the Arts and France’s Order of Arts and Letters. His works have been exhibited at institutions including the Museo Reina Sofía in Madrid and Art Basel Unlimited.

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