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Tate Modern Exhibition

Maria Bartuszová

20 September 2022 – 25 June 2023

Free for Members

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Maria Bartuszová

Maria Bartuszová, Untitled 1985, Tate,  Presented by the Estate of Maria Bartuszová and Alison Jacques, London, 2018  © The Archive of Maria Bartuszová, Košice. Courtesy of The Estate of Maria Bartuszová, Košice, and Alison Jacques, London

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  • Exhibition guide
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Delicate, evocative plaster sculptures inspired by the natural world

Bringing together many works rarely exhibited before in the UK, this survey exhibition will highlight the abstract sculptures of Prague-born Slovak artist Maria Bartuszová.

Bartuszová worked over three decades in Košice, the second-largest city in Slovakia. She created around 500 sculptures, from small organic forms to commissions for public spaces as well as works in the landscape, despite restrictions on her artistic life during this period.

The exhibition starts in the 1960s, when Bartuszová experimented using her own distinctive method of casting plaster by hand. Inspired by playing with her young daughter, she created abstract shapes by pouring plaster into rubber balloons – her signature material was white plaster, giving the sculptures a fragile quality.

She shaped the sculptures by pushing, pulling, or submerging them into water, creating unique and distinct shapes. Some suggest raindrops, seeds or eggs, others the human body. Later, she allowed the balloons to burst, creating delicate works similar to cocoons or nests.

In the 1980s, Bartuszová frequently photographed her works outdoors to emphasise their close ties to nature. The exhibition will also include a selection of these striking images.

An archival photography of a woman standing between egg-like and nature-inspired sculptures

Maria Batuszová in her studio, Vnútorný cervený breh in Košice, Slovakia1987–1988, printed 2016 Reproduced from the Archive of Maria Bartuszová, Košice. Photographer unknown.

A drop-like sculpture hanging from a thin support against white backdrop

Maria Bartuszová Untitled (Drop) 1963-4 Tate Purchased with funds provided by the Edward and Agnès Lee Acquisition Fund 2016 © The Archive of Maria Bartuszová, Košice.

A curved white sculpture with a band around the middle against a white background

Maria Bartuszová Untitled 1973 Nuyten Dime Collection, courtesy Alison Jacques, London

A silver sculpture, shaped like a segmented block, against a white background

Maria Bartuszová Folded Figure, Horizontal, Haptic 1974, cast 1975 The Estate of Maria Bartuszová, Košice and Alison Jacques, London

A white sculpture, with voluptuous bulging layers, against a white background

Maria Bartuszová Untitled 1973 Alex and Gabriela Davidoff Collection

A white sculpture of a natural shape with holes and wrinkles almost like an egg shell or animal skull against a white background

Maria Bartuszová Untitled 1986 The Estate of Maria Bartuszová, Košice and Alison Jacques, London

All Tate Modern entrances are step-free. You can enter via the Turbine Hall and into the Natalie Bell Building on Holland Street, or into the Blavatnik Building on Sumner street.

There are lifts to every floor of the Blavatnik and Nathalie Bell buildings. Alternatively you can take the stairs.

  • Fully accessible toilets are located on every floor on the concourses.
  • A quiet room is available to use in the Natalie Bell Building on Level 4.
  • Ear defenders can be borrowed from the Ticket desks.

To help plan your visit to Tate Modern, have a look at our visual story. It includes photographs and information of what you can expect from a visit to the gallery.

Download the Tate Modern map [PDF, 1014 Kb]

Our exhibition guide explores the exhibition room by room.

Need a bigger font size of the exhibition guide? Download the large print guide [1.2MB]

Tate Modern

Bankside
London SE1 9TG
Plan your visit

Dates

20 September 2022 – 25 June 2023

  • Advance booking is recommended ​
  • Members enjoy free entry – no need to book, just turn up with your card
  • Open until 22.00 for Tate Modern Lates

Supported by

The Maria Bartuszová Exhibition Supporters Circle

Acquavella Galleries
Alison Jacques
Amy Gold and Brett Gorvy
Chloe Joseph
Danica Matáková
Edward Lee
Wagner Foundation
and those who wish to remain anonymous

Tate Americas Foundation

Tate International Council

and Tate Patrons

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