Libenský & Brychtová

Czech artists Stanislav Libenský (1921-2002) & Jaroslava Brychtová (1924-2020) created some of the defining cast glass sculptures and architectural installations of the 20th century. Known for defying the aesthetic dictates of socialist realism, Libenský & Brychtová found a way to use the production facilities of the Communist glass industry to produce a stunning modernist body of work that defined abstract sculpture in glass. During an almost 50-year life and artistic partnership, they explored the optical and physical aspects of glass to develop work concerning form, light and color. Their sculptural legacy ranges from luminous geometry to spiritual figuration and their works are held in the permanent collections of major museums worldwide.

Heller Gallery has been privileged to represent Libenský & Brychtová since 1980 and we are especially pleased to have been able to assemble the remarkable collection of sculptures comprising The Inner Light, the first major US exhibition for these legendary artists in more than a decade.

The exhibition focuses on works showcasing the extraordinary trajectory of the couple’s career. Two of the largest sculptures, Sphere in Cube and Cube in Sphere were included twenty years ago in the 2002 solo inaugural exhibition at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, WA. Many are sourced from one in-depth, private collection built over a thirty-year personal relationship with the Libenskýs.

Artist and critic Robert Kehlmann wrote “the glass sculpture of Libenský and Brychtová exists in a class of its own. Successful art leads us to fresh understanding of the world we live in. It excites our eyes and our minds, nurturing us to see, feel and think in new ways. And this is precisely what we experience when looking at Libenský and Brychtová’s sculpture. It touches the inner core of our being.”