Martin Krupa *1988
Martin graduated from the Digital Media Studio at the Faculty of Art and Design, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, where Michaela Thelenová and Radek Jandera mentored him. He later joined Lighting Design at the Janáček Academy of Performing Arts in Brno, studying under Pavla Beranová and Vladimír Burian. During his studies, he completed an international internship at the University of Arts and Industrial Design Linz, in the Time-Based Media studio led by Brigitte Vasicek and Christoph Nebel. He is currently enrolled in a doctoral programme, with a dissertation focused on The Moving Image in Multi-Channel Display.
In his artistic practice Martin works with moving images, combining analog and digital technologies. He explores seemingly mundane situations, deliberately twisting their narrative thread to unsettle the viewer’s perception of reality. His works are marked by a tension arising from an undefined sense of otherness and inappropriateness. Martin regularly participates in group exhibitions and festivals, presenting projections, video installations, and light-based artworks. He is also active as a lighting designer.
Group Exhibitions
2013 — International Documentary Film Festival — Laboratorium, Půda Gallery, Jihlava
2024 — Win Win, H40 Gallery, Prague
2022 — Multiscreen Video Installation, project “Cabinet of Light,” Pałac Gorzanów (in collaboration with Michal Horáček / OSTblok and Aneta Fodorová / Třetí prostor) — premiere 30 Sept
2022 — Insta36 Festival, Salzburg — film screening
2021 — Katarze Festival: Samsara, Gabriel Loci, Prague
2021 — Deziluze Festival (with Marie Zandálková), Herold Brewery, Březnice
2021 — Sokolský Sokl, accompanying exhibition of the Český Štemberk Film Festival, 3kurátorky, Český Štemberk
2021 — Valuing Art, Modern Gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts, Prague
2020 — Katarze Festival: Monastery, Břevnov Monastery, Prague
2020 — Deziluze Festival, 3kurátorky, Herold Brewery, Březnice
2020 — Re ?, 3kurátorky, Invalidovna, Prague
2019 — Velvet Exhibition, Emil Filla Gallery, Ústí nad Labem
2019 — Virtuality, 3kurátorky, Invalidovna, Prague
2019 — Labyrinth, Pragovka Gallery, Prague
2019 — Diplomas 19 (graduate works exhibition), Emil Filla Gallery, Ústí nad Labem
2018 — Alienation According to the Dictionary, Emil Filla Gallery, Ústí nad Labem
2018 — TOTAL SOLO – Festival Neue Musik, Linz
2018 — WEG, Raum-schiff, Linz — master class Zeitbasierte Medien on the theme “Journey”
2017 — Museum & Gallery Night at the House of Art — live-cinema / audiovisual installation and walk (with Jáchym Myslivec, Jana Kolorevá, Iva Zochová), House of Art Ústí nad Labem
2017 — Draft / Průvan – Luis Fenestro, Incubator Gallery, Youth Centre of Prague
2016 — Art Dialog – Interspaces, Sýpka Klenová (international student symposium) — (with Lucie Růžičková)
2016 — Diplomas 16 (bachelor’s & master’s works exhibition), Faculty of Art & Design UJEP, Ústí nad Labem
2015 — Electronic Image, Department of Electronic Image FUD UJEP, Podnik, Prague
2014 — Communicating by Image, Rampa Gallery, Ústí nad Labem
2014 — Kůra Festival, Sedlec Brewery, Kutná Hora
2014 — Kruh Festival, piazzetta in front of MUMI, Ústí nad Labem
Solo Exhibitions
2025 — In Between, Gallery 2, House of Art Ústí nad Labem, Ústí nad Labem
2023 — Much Better Now, Archa Theatre, Prague (with Sofia Valéz)
2014 — Kino projekce na Desku (Cinema Projection on Deska), Deska — public space, Žukovova Street, Ústí nad Labem (with Jáchym Myslivec)
Lighting Design
2024 — Malfunction on the Nautilus, dir. Eliška Mervartová, Znojmo Music Festival
2024 — Poetry of the Harp, Ludmila Pavlicová & Ivana Švestková, Pecka Castle
2024 — Growing and Turning, music performance (Ludmila Pavlicová, Anna Paulová, Johanna Haniková), Bohuslav Martinů Hall, Prague
2024 — The Jewel of Mr Lacroix, dir. Eliška Mervartová, Divadlo na Rejdišti
2023 — Synthesis of Contrast, Ludmila Pavlicová, Pecka Castle
2023 — Liminal (film), dir. Tamara Avakyan
2023 — The Coronation of Poppea, dir. Vladimír John, Divadlo na Orlí
2023 — Fairies, dir. Eliška Mervartová, Studio Devítka, Faculty of Music JAMU
2023 — Henrik Ibsen: Ghosts, dir. Max Novotarski, Studio 013, DF JAMU
2022 — Maurice Ravel: L’Heure espagnole, dir. Eliška Mervartová, cond. Sébastien Bagnoud (13 Feb)
2022 — Home Beyond the Borders?, dir. Maciej Gorczyński, perf. Ewa Žukovská — Czech premiere, Venuše ve Švehlovce (21 Nov)
2022 — Bordel l’Amour, Depresivní děti toužící po penězích, dir. Jakub Čermák — site-specific adaptation for Gabriel Loci (18 – 24 May)
Projects
2025 — Blackout / projection, Ústí Region Energy Centre
Awards
2019 — Digital Media Studio Award, Faculty of Art & Design UJEP
2016 — Art Dialog Award, Sýpka Klenová
2016 — Digital Media Studio Award, Faculty of Art & Design UJEP
Internships
2017 – 2018 — University of Arts and Industrial Design Linz (studies / Erasmus), Linz, Austria