The Kunsthalle Praha Design Shop is proud to present a new limited edition in collaboration with Josef Bolf, one of the most prominent figures of the Czech contemporary art scene. The series, titled Květovaná košile (Floral Shirt), 2026, consists of just 21 original prints. Each one is hand-painted by the artist, making every piece entirely unique. To capture the atmosphere and the story behind this exceptional release, we visited Bolf in his private sanctuary.
Where Paintings Come to Life
Hidden in a courtyard in Prague’s Old Town, Bolf’s studio is a world that rarely opens to the outside. From the moment we step inside, it is clear this is no ordinary visit. Dried streaks of paint cover the white walls up to the ceiling, flowing down in thick layers to create a hypnotic grid—a “painting behind the paintings.” This serves as the backdrop to an interior crowded with improvised tables and pedestals.
Everywhere you look, there are sketchbooks, tools, loose drawings, and stacks of books ranging from medieval illuminations and biblical art to the far reaches of the universe and comic books. The space feels alive, as if everything within it might spring into motion at any moment. As we examine narrow shelves lined with colored inks, the artist brings out the first finished prints. Laid side by side, they appear identical at a glance; yet, upon closer inspection, each reveals subtle differences.
A Return to Roots and Uncertainty
The Floral Shirt series draws on motifs that Bolf has revisited for years. He traces their origins back more than two decades:
“It was a strange period when certain ideas I had about what my paintings should look like began to crumble.”
By chance, he rediscovered his old school notebooks filled with drawings of strange hybrid creatures—half-human and half-animal. This motif became the foundation of his work. In this new edition, the figure bears Bolf’s hallmark traits: vulnerability, quiet melancholy, and a peculiar inner tension. The character is set against a housing estate—a familiar landscape from the artist’s childhood—creating a stark contrast between intimacy and a cold, almost dystopian environment.
A Print That Is Never the Same
Bolf chose lithography for this edition. The process involves a hand-cranked press where the drawing is transferred to paper as a mirror image. The natural variability ensures that no two sheets react in exactly the same way.
We watched as he finished a print, deepening the contours with ink before applying his signature muted tones. The color soaks into the paper, sometimes remaining subtle, elsewhere forming bold accents. “I wanted each print to be unique, so I decided to incorporate hand-painting,” he explains.
A Limited Edition Not to Be Repeated
The Květovaná košile edition was created exclusively for Kunsthalle Praha. Each print is signed, numbered, and hand-finished by the artist.
“I am glad Kunsthalle Praha invited me to create this series. I have a deep connection to printmaking—it was my field of study—and I believe its accessibility is vital. It is a medium often overlooked, so it is wonderful to see it back in the spotlight.”
This accessibility makes the edition an ideal entry point for new collectors or a powerful visual addition for seasoned enthusiasts.
About the Artist
Josef Bolf (b. 1971) is one of the most prominent figures in contemporary Czech painting. His work centers on figurative motifs, often depicting solitary beings on the boundary between human and animal worlds, set within housing estates or dystopian landscapes. His works evoke melancholy, fragility, and unease, drawing from personal memory and the deeper layers of the subconscious.