Bio
Sona Smedkova was born in the Czech Republic in 1984. Smedkova left for Ireland where she discovered a passion for art. Uncertainty and lack of experience in the art world led Smedkova to take a courageous step into a new, unknown life of travelling which allowed the time and space for critical reflection. Smedkova returned to Ireland where she recently gained a First-class Honours, Master’s in Creative Practice, School of Design and Creative Arts, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Galway.
Smedkova is a multidisciplinary artist exploring internal experiences, identity and in-between spaces through photography, painting, video and sound generated by Artificial Intelligence. In 2010, Smedkova was part of several group exhibitions in Galway, curated by Margaret Nolan under the title Space Invaders. In 2019 she took part in the exhibition Coast, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Galway, a survey of work of 3rd -year graduates from Centre of Creative Arts and Media, Galway. Smedkova was also an Integral member of the student-led curating team for an exhibition for all Centre of Creative Arts and Media contemporary art graduates Not a Degree Show, Connacht Tribune Printworks, funded by Galway City Art Council. She is also a founder of anew artist-led collective T.E.C.A.
CV
Born in 1984, Valtice, Czech Republic
Email: sona.smedkova@gmail.com
Education
2021 Master of Arts in Creative Practice, Centre of Creative Arts and Media, Galway, Ireland
2020 BACA (Hons.), CCAM, Galway, Ireland
Awards
2021 Agility Award, Arts Council Ireland
2020 RDS Visual Arts Award Longlisted
Funded projects
2021Radius 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