ARTIST'S STATEMENT

Blanka Sperkova began to experiment with wire in 1970. Inspired by traditional wire techniques used by Slovak tinkers, she has worked extensively with wire since 1975. She does not, however, use traditional tinker techniques. She has created a unique technique of finger knitting, which uses neither knitting needles nor other tools. Using a basic loop, she creates both free sculptures and jewelry. Early in her career she created figurative forms, based on the human body and animal motifs, but these gradually evolved into more abstract forms, always based on some distinct meaning. She has applied her wire techniques to her work in animated films and graphics. She often manipulates the airy transparency of knitted wire to create inner forms that demonstrate an expressive interplay between light and shadow.

EDUCATION

Secondary School of Applied Arts in Bratislava 1963 - 1967

Academy of Theatrical Arts in Prague 1968 - 1969

Academy of Applied Arts in Prague 1969 - 1974

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

Drawings - Cafe B2 Brno, Czech Republic, 2008

Wire objects, jewelery and drawings - Galerie Z ruky, Krizovice, Czech Republic, 2008

Blanka Sperkova and guest, Galerie Doxa, Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic, 2007

Inspiration-Dedication - Galerie Rozehnal, Prague, Czech Republic, 2007

Wire objects and Drawings - Stara radnice KIC, Brno,Czech Republic, 2007

Wire objects, jewelery and drawings -Etnograficky ustav MZM Brno, Czech Republic, 2007

Summer will come again- V & V Galerie, Vienna, Austria, 2006

Threaded and Shredded (with Jilli Blackwood and Mari Ishikawa) - Julie Artisans' Gallery, New York, USA, 2005

Wire Objects and Jewellery - Slovácké muzeum, Uherské hradiště, Czech Republic, 2005

Blanka Šperková - Czech Center, Brussels, Belgium, 2005

Threaded and Shredded /with Jilli Blackwood and mari Ishikawa/Julie Artisans'Gallery, NYC, 2005

Dratene objekty, sperky- Slovacke muzeum, Uherske Hradiste, Czech Republic, 2005

Objets-Objecten Blanka Sperkova- Czech Center, Brussel, Belgique, 2005

Jewellery Blanka Sperkova- Gallerie Lous Martin, Delft, Holland, 2005

Poetry Made of Wire- Embassy of the Czech Rep.,Washington D.C., 2005

Sculpture, Drawings, Jewellery- Quirk Gallery, Richmond, Virginia, 2005

Jewelery -The Works Gallery Snyderman Philadelphia PA, USA, 2004

I Paint - Pellicova, Brno, Czech Republic, 2004

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

SOFA 2008 NY city, USA, 2008

Mit Zur Lucke - Falkenstein, Austria, 2008

Mona Lisa 2006- Michalsky dvor, Bratislava, Slovakia, 2007

Aus Tchechien mit ihren Kunstlern - Galerie Horst, Nittenau, Germany, 2007

Drotene rozmary - galerie X, Bratislava, Slovakia, 2007

Jewelery from Paintings -Mobilia Gallery, Cambridge, USA, 2007

15 let TT klubu- Muzeum mesta Brna Spilberk, Czech Republic, 2006

Textilna miniatura- Galeria X, Bratislava, Slovakia, 2006

Bienale ceske krajky- Vamberk, Czech Republic, 2006

Mona Lisa 2006- Nova radnice ,Brno, Czech Republic, 2006

Luftschlosser- Schloss Aichberg, Austria, 2006

Textilni miniatura- Galerie U prstenu, Prague, Czech Republic, 2006

Mona Lisa 2006- Nosticuv palac, Prague, Czech Republic, 2006

10 years on- Kath Libbert Jewellery Gallery, Salt Mills, Saltaire, England, 2006

Le souffle Slovaque / The Touch of Slovakia-Site des anciens abattoirs, Mons,Belgique, 2006

Brno's Artists - Gallery Veveří Castle, Czech Republic, 2005

Not the Knitting You Know - Eleven Eleven Sculpture Space, Washington D.C., 2005

17. Jewellery Symposium of Czech Garnet, Turnov, Czech Republic, 2005

Jewellery Symposium - Travassos, Portugal, 2005

Brnensti vytvarnici- Galerie Hrad Veveri, Czech Republic, 2005

Not the Knitting you know- Eleven Eleven Sculpture Space, Washington D.C., 2005

17. Jewellery Symposium- Turnov, Czech Republic, 2005

Jewellery Symposium- Travassos, Porto, Portugal, 2005

Sparkle Plenty: Jewelry Exhibition- Quirk Gallery, Richmond, Virginia,2005

Eroticky sperk - Mestska knihovna, Most, Czech Republic, 2004

Valuable Links (jewels from OSCE Countries) - Osterreichisches Museum fur Volkskunde, Vienna, Austria, 2004

Accessories: After Disaster, Galerie U prstenu, Prague, Czech Republic, 2004

Metamorphosis of fibre: Personalities of Czech Lace - Museum of Decorative Arts, Prague, Czech Republic, 2004

Hason Lapi - Rauma Sali, Rauma, Finland, 2004

Czech it Out: jewellery and sculpture - Salts mill, Saltaire, England, 2004

Biennale Internationale de la Dentelle - Palais des Academies, Bruxelles, Belgium, Textilsammlung Max Berk, Heidelberg, Germany, 2004

GRANTS AND AWARDS

Honorable mention at the XVI. Film Festival in Zlín for the film The Tale of Murán, 1976

Honorable mention at the XVIII. Film Festival in Zlín for the film The Giant and the Stone Cutter, 1978

Award for the best film at the International Film Festival in Panama for the film Dona Militara, 1980

Honorable mention 3. Betonac prijs, 1992

Award for the Best Publication of the Year 1992

Prix international Hoppeland 1993, Popering, Belgium, 1993

COLLECTIONS

Czech National Gallery

International Private Collections