A new exhibition in South Bohemia’s fairytale town of Český Krumlov offers visitors an unexpected encounter: not just with cobbled streets and Renaissance facades, but with the boundless imagination of Pablo Picasso.
The World of Picasso opened on April 9, 2025, and runs for a full year, transforms the town’s former monastery complex into a deep dive into the artist’s prolific and varied career.
More than 100 original works — including lithographs, drawings, ceramics, and paintings — form the heart of this ambitious show, curated by Vilém Kobzan.
“Picasso’s creative journey was anything but predictable,” says Kobzan. “The exhibition reflects the remarkable range of styles and themes he embraced over his lifetime.” The selection on display demonstrates this diversity with striking clarity, tracing the artist’s shifting approach to subjects such as nature, mythology, women, animals, and his own interior world.
Alongside these pieces are rarely seen photographs, original posters from international exhibitions, and documentary footage. Some of the posters were personally selected by Picasso himself — a reminder of his interest not only in creation but also in how his work was presented to the public.
The majority of the artworks come from the private collection of Vladimír Cnota, who owns more than 450 Picasso-related objects.
“We wanted to honour Picasso by opening this exhibition on the anniversary of his death,” Cnota explains. The show is part of The World of Picasso, a travelling collection, and includes additional loans from collectors in the Czech Republic and abroad.
Interactive elements and multilingual guides make the exhibition accessible to all ages, aiming to connect both seasoned art lovers and curious newcomers with the emotional and intellectual depth of Picasso’s work.
“This is a major cultural event for our city,” said Alexandr Nogrády (ANO), mayor of Český Krumlov. “It’s not just about drawing more visitors — though we hope it does — but encouraging them to stay longer, explore the town’s other museums and galleries, and experience what makes Český Krumlov a cultural destination year-round.”
A rare oil painting by Pablo Picasso, titled Still Life with Absinthe, is now on display at the Monastery Gallery in Český Krumlov, following its official unveiling on June 4, 2025. This remarkable cubist work, painted between 1912 and 1914, is part of the Picasso Life exhibition and will remain accessible to the public for three months.
What makes this showing particularly exceptional is the security vault in which the painting is housed. Specially designed for this exhibition, the vault not only offers maximum protection but also allows visitors to view the work from an intimate distance, ensuring a rare, up-close experience of one of modern art’s pivotal creations.
The painting itself—on loan from a private collection affiliated with The World of Picasso group—exemplifies early Cubism, the movement Picasso co-founded with Georges Braque. Its muted palette of browns, grays, beiges, and blacks and its precise geometric structure reflect the period’s departure from realism. In the composition, viewers can discern fragmented musical instruments, a glass mid-motion, a clef, sugar, and a spoon—all layered in a complex visual language that is both analytical and poetic.
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Still Life with Absinthe
A rare oil painting by Pablo Picasso, titled Still Life with Absinthe, is now also on display, following its official unveiling on June 4, 2025. This remarkable cubist work, painted between 1912 and 1914, is part of the Picasso Life exhibition and will remain accessible to the public for three months.
What makes this showing particularly exceptional is the security vault in which the painting is housed. Specially designed for this exhibition, the vault not only offers maximum protection but also allows visitors to view the work from an intimate distance, ensuring a rare, up-close experience of one of modern art’s pivotal creations.
The painting itself—on loan from a private collection affiliated with The World of Picasso group—exemplifies early Cubism, the movement Picasso co-founded with Georges Braque. Its muted palette of browns, grays, beiges, and blacks and its precise geometric structure reflect the period’s departure from realism. In the composition, viewers can discern fragmented musical instruments, a glass mid-motion, a clef, sugar, and a spoon—all layered in a complex visual language that is both analytical and poetic.
Exhibition Details
Title: Picasso Life
Venue: Monastery Gallery, Český Krumlov
Dates: April 9, 2025 – April 9, 2026
Opening Hours:
• May 1 – May 31, 2025: Tuesday–Sunday, 10:30–18:00
• June 1 – December 31, 2025: Monday–Sunday, 10:30–18:00
Admission:
• Adults: 250 CZK
• Reduced: 200 CZK
• Family: 650 CZK
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