Zuzana Čížková

Zuzana Čížková (born 10 December 1982) is a Czech sculptor and painter.

Biography
Although born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, Zuzana Čížková was raised in Brandýs nad Labem. During her childhood, she was inspired by her grandfather who was an art restorer.

She studied at High School of Sculptures and Stone-cutting in Hořice. Later she continued her studies at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague, department of Fine Arts in the Sculpture Atelier led by Professor Kurt Gebauer. From 2010, she lives and works in Dobřichovice.

During and shortly after her high school studies Zuzana Čížková specialized in traditional technologies and materials (stone and gypsum). Later on, she started to experiment with materials she had already employed earlier in her education. She was discovering of new and non-traditional concrete (cement-mortar mixture) which she achieved in cooperation with the Research Institute of cement – mortar in Prague-Radotín.

She caught the attention of the audience, not only in Czech Republic, but also in France. In Paris, she twice took part in the Salon des Artistes Independants (2006 and 2007) as a representative of young Czech artistes. Later she made exhibition with a French painter Valexia. Zuzana Čížková also participated at two internships in Basel in Switzerland and Carrar Quarry in Italy. In the year 2009 she received the Winton Train Award – "Inspiration by Goodness Prague – London" for the work inspired by sign language.

She has created dozens of monumental sculptures for public areas in the Czech Republic (for example in Čížkov, Landek Park in Ostrava, Brandýs nad Labem, Poděbrady, Prague-Prosek and Prague-Smíchov.)

Zuzana Čížková paintings and sculptural works has been intertwined with themes of communication and human being in harmony with nature and spiritual faith. She also created works based on the motifs of sign language. Many objects and especially paintings were created on these themes. For example, the cycles of works We Are Not Robots, Electrofaith, Romantic Landscape of the 21st Century and Horizons of Events.

In recent years, the artist has been painting mainly with oil and acrylic on canvases in impasto style layers in very bright colors, even garish colours. Her paintings thus give the viewer feelings of energy and determination, but also an opportunity to reflect reality and contemplate.

Permanent installation in public areas (selection)

 * Ivory of mammoth, in Landek Park in Ostrava, stone (2006)
 * Mistress of Emperor Rudolf II in Brandýs nad Labem, concrete (2006)
 * Three Madonnas in Prague-Prosek, marble, sandstone, granite (2010)
 * Sign language sculpture "Life is beautiful, be happy and love each other" – in Prague-Smíchov, concrete (2011)
 * Monument to Saint Agnes of Bohemia in Poděbrady, artificial sandstone (2012)
 * Monument to the Czech painter Ludvík Kuba in Poděbrady, concrete (2013)