Marian Karel

Marian Karel (born 21 August 1944 in Pardubice), is a Czech sculptor and university professor.

From 1959 to 1963 he studied at the Central School of Applied Arts in Jablonec nad Nisou. In the years 1965 to 1972 he studied at the studio of Stanislav Libenský the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague.

In 1992 he became Head of the Studio Glass in Architecture at the University of Applied Arts in Prague, in 1995 he was appointed Professor and the Head of the department of fine arts. Other teaching activities were as follows:

• 1983 and 1989 - Pilchuck Glass School, Washington, USA
• 1986 - British Artists in Glass, UK
• 1987 - GAS, Philadelphia and Kent State University, Ohio, USA
• 1988 - Miasa Glass Workshop, Japan
• 1992 - Niijima Glass Centre, Japan
• 1998 - Auckland Faculty, New Zealand
• 1999 - Toyama City Institut of Glass, Japan
• 1999 - Jacksonville University, USA
• 2000 - Hameenlinna, Finland
• 2002 - Strasbourg, France
• 2003 - Waterford, Ireland
• 2011 - Lecture, Sofia, Bulgaria
• 2012 - Lecture, workshop D.Z. M.K. International Symposium in Architectural Glass
• 2012 - Sunderland, UK

Since 2009 he is a professor at the Faculty of Architecture, Technical University, where he heads the Department of Industrial Design.

Black Cube

Marian Karel uses light, glass, and geometric forms to make illusionistic sculptures that challenge the viewer's perceptions of space. He has reached an international status within the Minimalistic movement, although he does not fully identify himself with this style. He expresses very simplistic interactions between basic geometrical elements, which very artfully and intricately connect and permeate. He has had several gallery and museum exhibitions, including at the Museum Kampa, The Jan and Meda Mládek Foundation and at the Galerie Karsten Greve, Paris. His works include the following sculptures:

• 1988 - Glass sculpture in front of the Czech pavilion at the 43rd Venice Biennale
• 1991 - The sculpture of polished granite, fused glass and steel, a sports complex, Chitose, Japan
• 1992 - Spatial installation of metal and glass, Czech pavilion at Seville Expo '92
• 2002 - Museum Kampa, Prague: 3 sculptures from glass, steel, stone and wood
• 2004 - Statue of astronomy professor Zdeněk Kopal in Litomyšl
• 2006 - Statues of Prague at the Prague Congress Centre
• 2010 - Gate of time and historiogram statue in the square of King George of Poděbrady in Cheb

• Tina Oldknow: Black Cube, Corning Museum of Glass.
• Museum Kampe.
• Mutual Art.