“It’s close to me that whole worlds can grow from a minimal set of means”. Taja Spasskova on the Czech scene, the international horizon — and Prague
​Early in the morning at Bethesda Bar we discussed how the artist parts with her works, why she sees it as an exchange of energy, and how pieces find their spaces and people; we spoke about the upcoming institutional show where drawing moves into installation and 3D, the current transitional period with a new studio search, and the practicalities of framing and storage. Taja also shared her Prague picks: where to have breakfast, where to work, and where to see the city from above.
Location: Prague, Czech Republic
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Taja Spasskova. Photo by Martin Czeller
BLAU: In a few words, how do you describe your practice?
Taja: I’m a multidisciplinary artist. The main lines of my practice are abstract art, drawing, and conceptual art photography. I explore forms of reality, consciousness, and identity. I work in two mediums: abstraction and photography, and my approaches in them are different. I’d say abstraction is about the inner, intangible world of a person, while photography is more often linked to social themes. These two lines complement each other and create a sense of wholeness. “At some point I simply accepted two directions. It’s impossible to choose, and unnecessary.”
At some point I simply accepted that
I have two directions. It’s impossible to choose, and unnecessary
BLAU: Let’s start from the very beginning.
Taja: I was born in Grodno. I drew from childhood and very early said, “I’m an artist.” I loved drawing, dance, literature, history, everything with movement and image. From age 11 I went to an art school, then to a classical academic program. There were no artists in my family; this has been my choice from the start. College gave me craft and discipline, a trained eye. But if there is no inner freedom, mastery turns into neat decoration.
BLAU: How did the move, the new language environment, and institutions around you influence your voice, and what from that outside experience did you actually let into your method?
Taja: It wasn’t sudden. It's an accumulated potential: technical, conceptual, mental. Like a glass you fill for a long time until it’s clear it’s full and ready to pour into the work. Different layers came together: post-Soviet chlidhood, the European context, personal transformations. At some point it all aligned; I felt the language had been found, I could breathe in it and experiment.
BLAU: Why did drawing become the base?
Taja: For its clarity and accessibility. It’s close to me that whole worlds can grow from a minimal set of means. The movement from point to line, from line to form, then to volume and space still fascinates me. Drawing is direct action without barriers: no priming, no time lost on “servicing” the material. In that sense painting feels foreign to me; drawing is my way to move quickly and honestly.
BLAU: How did photography enter your practice?
Taja: In art college. I realized drawing is ideal for line and form, but not for color. Photography opened light and color for me. My photo projects are usually long, years: I research the theme, then shoot in concentrated blocks. For a long time I thought I had to choose, drawing or photography. Later I accepted both lines: I rest from photography by drawing, and from drawing by photographing. Two sides of one process.
BLAU: Tell us about recent residencies.
Taja: In March I was at Telegraph Gallery in Olomouc. Very social: a dense program, open studios, presentations. It brought a lot of experience and contacts. The month was intensely full. The fresh residency, house.oskar, was the opposite: a place for solitude, with no schedule and no obligations. It’s a project about quiet and recovery; the organizers collect artists’ personal texts and plan a book. It was valuable to live “doing nothing” as active time, to feel the place and myself without the pressure of result. Overall, exhibitions and residencies matter to me: new spaces and encounters open a lot, about the world and about yourself. Residencies push you out of the comfort zone; exhibitions bring fresh angles and energy. Keeping a balance of inner and outer is crucial, and such projects help sustain it.
​BLAU: Your aesthetics and presentation feel very coherent.
Taja: Thank you, but I don’t “assemble” anything on purpose. What’s organic to me expands into everything: choice of places, materials, light, and how I photograph my own works. I document the process and the pieces myself, hence the coherence of the visual language. It’s about authenticity and integrity.
BLAU: Do you have a studio?
Taja: It’s a transitional period: I’m looking for a new studio. Big exhibitions are ahead; many works need framing; there’ll be an installation, so logistics and storage change. Earlier flexibility was enough. Now I want a permanent space, though I’m still productive at home; that’s natural for me.
BLAU: Do you feel attached to your works once they’re finished?
Taja: I’m fairly calm about it. For me it’s a way of interacting with the world and with people, a kind of exchange of energy. I like that works go on to live their own life, finding their spaces and their people. Of course, some pieces are harder to part with, but overall I see it as a natural process.
It’s an accumulated potential: technical, conceptual, mental. Like a glass you fill for a long time until it’s full and ready to pour into the work
BLAU: Your “heart places” in Prague — why you love them and what to do there.
Taja: “Café Slavia — a gorgeous view and the atmosphere of the First Republic. Go in the morning and watch the river from the windows.”
IG: @cafeslavia
“ALMA Prague — I like the rhythm of the place and the kitchen, perfect for daytime plans.”
IG: @alma__prague
“LUFT Bar — you’ll always run into friends, great for evening meetups.”
IG: @luft_cafe_bar
“Champagneria — for a personal meeting and a top glass of Prosecco, small and to the point.”
IG: @champagneria.cz
BLAU: Two coffee shops for work — when to go and what to order.
Taja: “KOLEKTOR — filter coffee, best in the first half of the day; by evening it turns into more of a bar, great to meet friends.”
IG: @kolektorcafe
“Bullerbyn — calm for daytime work; by evening the vibe is more of a bar.”
IG: @bullerbynpraha
BLAU: A bakery or pâtisserie after a morning walk — what to get and when.
Taja: “Eska — first half of the day; the best bread.”
IG: @eska_pekarna
“Sólo bakery — for fresh pastries and coffee, go in the morning.”
IG: @solobakeryprg
BLAU: Bookshops you love.
Taja: “Book Therapy — design, photo, architecture; well curated.”
IG: @booktherapy_cz
“Page Five — books and posters, plus a small exhibition space and a very authentic community.”
IG: @page_five_
BLAU: A place to breathe — park, slope, or riverfront.
Taja: “Stromovka — morning or daytime; a huge park, and for views go to the platform by the ‘Stalin/Metronome’.”
“Metronome / ‘Stalin’ platform — one of the best panoramas of the center; beautiful evening light.”
IG: @stalin_letna
“Vyšehrad — a classic evening viewpoint, come at sunset.”
IG: @prahavysehrad
BLAU: Paper and art-supply shops that actually save the day.
Taja: “Altamira — a classic spot in the center, reliable for materials and paper.”
IG: @altamira_art_supplies
“Grandpapír — paper and stationery; a practical address by the center.”
“Papelote — the best notebooks and lovely materials.”
IG: @papelote_cz
BLAU: A small, under-the-radar place you’d still recommend.
Taja: “Bethesda Bar — super atmospheric and very authentic, drop by both day and night.”
IG: @bethesda_bar
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The exhibition Matter of Absence by Taja Spasskova will be on view at Galerie Františka Drtikola PÅ™íbram.
Spasskova extends her abstract drawing into spatial, near-sculptural presentations, inviting viewers to dwell in the intervals between light and shadow, movement and stillness, matter and emptiness—the “in-between” where presence begins to form.
Curated by Magda Danel, the show foregrounds precision of line, restraint of means,
and the quiet intensity of attention.
Vernissage: 26 Nov, 18:00
Exhibition dates: 26 Nov 2025 – 15 Feb 2026
Venue: Galerie Františka Drtikola PÅ™íbram (Tyršova 106, PÅ™íbram)
Hours: Wed–Sun, 12:00–18:00
Info: gfdp.cz • info@gfdp.cz • +420 601 213 453
If you’re in Prague, this is a must-visit — BLAU recommends.
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Taja Spasskova is an interdisciplinary artist working primarily with abstraction across drawing and photography. Based in Prague, Czech Republic, her practice pushes the boundaries of each medium, translating line, tone, and surface into experimental (at times spatial) presentations. Conceptually, she examines the relationship between body and consciousness, shifts in perception, and the visualisation of inner states.
Photos: Katarina Sifrova; Martin Czeller; Liza Mas; the artist’s archive.
This interview was prepared by BLAU Studio within BLAU MAP, supported by PlatformB.
Reprinting/citation is allowed only with prior written consent from the BLAU Studio team.