Mila Fürstová is an award winning internationally exhibited artist who works primarily in the traditional method of etching, using a needle to intricately scratch her designs onto a zinc plate covered in brown wax. The surface is then smoked with a candle to produce a black finish. Her work is graphic and contemporary, yet mystical and intricate with a lightness of touch.
We were introduced to Fürstová’s work by Fraser Scott, the Director of A Gallery. Fraser shares our love of art+music and we are always excited to see what he - and his artists - are up to.
BIOG
BORN IN PELHŘIMOV, CZECHOSLOVAKIA IN 1975
Mila Fürstová moved with her family to Hradec Králové in East Bohemia in 1977, where she attended the Folk School of Arts. Her early exposure to art laid the foundation for her future career.
In 1994, Mila began an MA in Art, English Language and Psychology at Charles University in Prague. Her passion for art led her to England in 1996, where she studied Fine Art Printmaking at the University of Gloucestershire, graduating in 1999.
IN THE EARLY 2000s
Fürstová 's artistic journey continued as she completed her MA from Charles University and earned another MA from the Royal College of Art, London where she was recognized with the Royal College of Art Society Award and the Printmaking Council Award. In 2003, she was appointed the first Artist in Residence at Cheltenham Ladies' College, where she founded and ran an Etching studio until 2008. Her dedication to her craft and her innovative approach to etching earned her a place as the youngest member of The Royal West of England Academy in 2009.
Mila Fürstová's work is characterized by its intimate portrayal of the human soul, often created through the medium of etching. Her style is known for its delicate and intricate details, which invite viewers to explore the deeper layers of her compositions. She often incorporates elements of nature, mythology, and personal symbolism, creating a dream-like quality in her art. Her ability to blend traditional techniques with contemporary themes has made her work highly sought after.
FROM 2012 TO 2014
Fürstová 's talent reached a global audience when she created the album art for Coldplay's Ghost Stories. This collaboration brought her work to a massive audience and raised over £100k for children's charities.
Her artwork for Coldplay is a testament to her ability to convey complex emotions and narratives through visual art.
OVER THE PAST DECADE
Fürstová has exhibited in over 20 solo shows in many countries including Britain, the USA, France and the Czech Republic. During this time she has won numerous awards and has featured in numerous publications.
Her work has become part of important private and public collections, including that of Queen Elizabeth II and the V&A Museum and The Museum of London.
Her contributions to the art world continue to inspire and captivate audiences, cementing her standing in the world of contemporary printmaking.
ARTIST STATEMENT
My work is an intimate portrayal of the human soul explored through the medium of etching, expressed in a distinctly female voice.
The content is inspired by universal and personal mythologies. The work is poetic and often narrative in its nature and reads as both contemporary and timeless. I cut, fold and overlay my works, often printing on glass or other transparent surfaces thus creating imagery that is multidimensional in terms of both form and meaning.
The feminine voice of my work is tactile and urgent, fragile yet strong, gentle yet enquiring. At times it floats weightlessly above the labyrinth of being a woman at other times it delves into the darkest corners of the female psyche.
The technique of etching uniquely reflects and informs the spirit of my work. I draw with a needle onto a plate, allowing the image to quietly grow, whilst a fragile silver line emerges from a dark background as if a distant memory was traced from the unconscious. The initial image undergoes metamorphosis as the alchemical process of etching progresses through each of its stages. Míla Fürstová MA RCA, RWA
