Kamil Lhoták: The Landscape of Dreams 1. 10.-6. 12. 2026

The Landscape of Dreams

‘As a boy, I had a few dreams: a bike, a motorbike, and a balloon. I’ve been cycling since I was fourteen and took up motorbiking four years later. I enjoy forests, fields, and meadows, and whenever I have a bit of time, I escape the city’s bustle. I hop on my motorbike or bicycle and go for a ride, often heading to Velvary for lunch. However, my dream of taking a balloon ride remains unfulfilled. I will continue dreaming and channel these hopes – whether fulfilled or not – into my paintings...’

(Kamil Lhoták)

We typically link Kamil Lhoták (1912–1990) with his paintings, but his artistic range extended well beyond that. He was also a graphic artist, producing as many as seven hundred pieces. Additionally, his illustrations are featured in over four hundred books. This exhibition at Villa Pellé highlights these three primary aspects of his work.

The exhibition Kamil Lhoták – The Landscape of Dreams spans the artist’s career, from his beginnings in the 1930s to the late 1980s. It highlights several important themes and facets that shaped his art. Lhoták’s mastery is demonstrated in both small-scale pieces and large canvases.

Visitors can explore over fifty years of the artist’s evolving style and themes. Originally captivated by Jules Verne’s world, with motifs like balloons and airships, he later joined Group 42, focusing on urban life and the surrounding environment. By the 1950s, his work shifted towards landscapes, especially the Central Bohemian Uplands. Additionally, his 1960s pieces showcase changes and new dynamic motifs, as he began incorporating symbols such as eagles, dragons, desert machines, and targets. During the 1970s and 1980s, his work saw a stronger influence of colourism and a more prominent use of colour. 

Moreover, Lhoták’s entire artistic universe is filled with a fascination for France and technological advancements, where motorbikes, cars, submarines, and aeroplanes are prominent themes. The artist’s talent for conveying genius loci – the distinctive spirit of a moment and place – shines through in his portraits of friends, muses, and even stray balls. Each element adds to the atmosphere of his paintings, which continue to inspire admiration across generations.

Libor Šteffek, curator