Bio
Sona Smedkova is Czech multidisciplinary artist based in Galway, Ireland. Her practice explores identity, in-between spaces, and model of disruption through photography, painting, 3D scans, animation, video and sound generated by Artificial Intelligence. Smedkova recently gained a First-class Honours, Master’s in Creative Practice, School of Design and Creative Arts, GMIT, Galway.
In 2020 Smedkova was an Integral member of the student-led curating team for an exhibition for GMIT contemporary art graduates Not a Degree Show, Printworks, funded by Galway City Art Council. She is also a founder of a new artist-led collective T.E.C.A. and was recently appointed as new Co-director of 126 gallery.
CV
Born in 1984, Valtice, Czech Republic
Email: sona.smedkova@gmail.com
Education
2022 Panel member – graduate representative for GMIT Programmatic Review
2021 Master of Arts in Creative Practice, Centre of Creative Arts and Media, Galway, Ireland
2020 BACA (Hons.), CCAM, Galway, Ireland
Residencies
2022 Interface Inagh residency with T.E.C.A. Collective
2021 - present School of design and Creative Arts (former CCAM), GMIT residency with T.E.C.A. Collective
Art sector positions/ memberships
2022 Co-Director of 126 gallery, Galway
2022 Design Lab Ambassador, Architecture at the Edge, Galway
2021 Artspace studio member
2021 Interface Inagh professional member
Awards
2021 Agility Award, Arts Council Ireland
2020 RDS Visual Arts Award Longlisted
Funded projects
2021 Radius ATS GMIT Project Award collaboration with one another MA student to engage with the transition year students at Merlin College, Galway
2020 Creative Ireland, working with a community group from Cope Glean oaks Lodge, Galway under Christmas Creation project.
2020 Not a Degree Show, curated with four others for all CCAM contemporary art graduates, funded by Galway Art Officer James C. Harrold, Connacht Tribune Printworks
2010 Space Invaders, Eyre Square Shopping Centre, Galway. The group was in collaboration with Galway City Art Office under concept of Councillor Niall McNelis
Group exhibitions
2020 Reminiscence (large digital inkjet print) GMIT library, Dublin Rd., Galway
2019 Coast, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Dublin Rd., Galway
2019 Flesh, Townhall Theatre Gallery, Galway
2016 Art trail for Galway Theatre Festival, Merchants Road, Galway
2010 Space Invaders, Cornstore, Middle Street, Galway. Other showing artists: Ali Cairns, Louise Mander, Harriet Leander, Dympna Tate, Margaret Nolan, Kerry Goodfellow and Noel Tate.
Commissions
2017 Carmel Donnellan, Formative Years, Gleann Na Ri, Galway
Collections
2016 Paul Behan, Business Development Manager at Mykidstime, Ireland
2012 Raymond Reilly, Vertigo Acquisitions, Ireland