Jakub Jansa (b. 1989) is an artist with a distinctive approach to combining film, installation, and performance. Through a nuanced and reflective sensibility, his work raises questions about the mechanisms of social structures and the ideologies shaping them. His exhibition series with the umbrella title Club of Opportunities reflects dynamics of class issues and power hierarchies in a way that is poetic yet intellectually provocative. Work blends fiction, humor, and elements of the grotesque with contemporary leftist theories. He creates imaginative environments that expose the fragile and illusory nature of social systems we live in. In 2021 was awarded the Jindřich Chalupecký Award. His work Shame to Pride is part of the new permanent exhibition at the National Gallery Prague. In 2022 he created a new comprehensive work for the exhibition Flower Union, which was organized by the National Gallery Prague on the occasion of the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The latest, ninth episode of Club of Opportunities was commissioned for the 57th Steirischer Herbst (2024) at the Neue Galerie Graz. In 2023 had an extensive solo exhibition at the Stone Bell House of the Prague City Gallery. He has also presented his work at Pioneer Works (2018) and Anthology Film Archives (2023) in New York, the 34th Ljubljana Biennale of Graphic Arts (2021), HEK in Basel (2020), and the 6th Athens Biennale (2018).

AWARDS

2026
Paul Thorel Prize

2021
Jindřich Chalupecký Award

FILMOGRAPHY

Silence of the Mole
Author: Jakub Jansa
4K, 13 min, 2026
(sound; English subtitles)
Premiere: Czechoslovak Pavilion, 61st Venice Biennale, Venice
new commission: National Gallery Prague, 61st Venice Biennale

Pumpkinville
(Club of Opportunities, Ep. 9)
Author: Jakub Jansa
4K, 15 min, 2024
(sound in English; English, German and Czech subtitles)
Premiere: Horror Patriae, Steirischer Herbst, Neue Galerie Graz
new commission: Steirischer Herbst
Watch →

Opening Ceremony
(Club of Opportunities, Ep. 8)
Author: Jakub Jansa
4K, 10 min, 2022
(sound in English; English and Czech subtitles)
Premiere: Flower Union, National Gallery Prague / Council of the European Union, Brussels
new commission: National Gallery Prague
Watch →

Shame to Pride
(Club of Opportunities, Ep. 7)
Author: Jakub Jansa
4K, 20 min, 2021
(sound in English; English and Czech subtitles)
Premiere: Jindřich Chalupecký Award Exhibition, Moravian Gallery in Brno
new commission: Jindřich Chalupecký Society
Watch →

Ten Years Night – Guided Tour
(Club of Opportunities, Ep. 6)
Author: Jakub Jansa
HD, 10 min, 2019
(sound in English; English subtitles)
new commission: Ten Years Night, Mihelic’s Gas Station, Ljubljana
Watch →

Keeping in Line
(Club of Opportunities, Ep. 5)
Author: Jakub Jansa
HD, 15 min, 2018
(sound in English; English and Czech subtitles)
Premiere: Keeping in Line, NoD, Prague
Watch →

Britannica Bootcamp
(Club of Opportunities, Ep. 4)
Author: Jakub Jansa
HD, 8 min, 2019
(sound in English; English subtitles)
Premiere: Britannica Bootcamp, CAAC, Strasbourg
new commission: CAAC, Strasbourg
Watch →

It’s So Physical II
Author: Jakub Jansa
multi-channel video installation, variable duration, 2021
(sound in English; English and Czech subtitles)
Premiere: 34th Ljubljana Biennial of Graphic Arts – Iskra Delta
new commission: Ljubljana Biennale of Graphic Arts

My Name is Red Herring
(Club of Opportunities, Ep. 3)
Author: Jakub Jansa
HD, 10 min, 2018
(sound; English and Czech subtitles)
Premiere: My Name is Red Herring, Fotograf Gallery, Prague

April Showers Bring May Flowers
(Club of Opportunities, Ep. 2)
Author: Jakub Jansa
HD, 10 min, 2018
(sound; English and Czech subtitles)
Premiere: April Showers Bring May Flowers, GAMU, Prague

It’s So Physical I
Author: Jakub Jansa
multi-channel video installation, variable duration, 2019
(sound in English; English and Czech subtitles)
new commission: MeetFactory

REZIDENCY

2023
Residency Unlimited
New York, US

2022
KULT XL Ateliers
Brusel, BE

2017
CEAAC
Strasbourg, FR

2015
Five-Eleven
New York, US

2013
Watch Out
Engstligenalp, Basel, CH

RESIDENCIES

2023
Residency Unlimited
New York, US

2022
KULT XL Ateliers
Brussels, BE

2017
CEAAC
Strasbourg, FR

2015
Five-Eleven
New York, US

2013
Watch Out
Engstligenalp, Basel, CH

COLLECTIONS

National Gallery Prague
Prague City Gallery (GHMP) – Collection of Modern and Contemporary Art
Havrlant Art Collection
Museum of Literature, Prague
Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague

EDUCATION

2020–2025
Ph.D.
Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague (UMPRUM)

2011–2016
MgA. (MFA equivalent)
Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague (UMPRUM)
Programme: Fine Arts, Studio of Supermedia

ACADEMIC POSITIONS

since 2020
Associate Professor
Faculty of Fine Arts, Brno University of Technology (FaVU VUT)

2019–present
Performance Studio (with Julie Béna)
Faculty of Fine Arts, Brno University of Technology (FaVU VUT)

2017–2019
Visiting Lecturer
Temporary Arts Studio, FAMU
Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague

EXHIBITION ARCHITECTURE

2020–2023 Permanent Collection Installation, Museum of Decorative Arts (UPM), collaboration with 20YY Designers and Tomáš Varga
2016 First Scratch, Czech Center, New York, US
2015 Book Report, exhibition for the 50th anniversary of The Most Beautiful Czech Books of the Year, collaboration with P. Babák and L. Kijonka
2014 Start Up, Prague City Gallery (GHMP), Prague
2013 Karel Malich, Riding Hall of Prague Castle, collaboration with Federico Díaz

MULTIMEDIA EXHIBITION PRODUCTION

2022 Permanent Collection Installation, Museum of Literature (PNP), Prague
2021 The Most Beautiful Czech Books of the Year 2020, CAMP, collaboration with Štěpán Malovec and Martin Odehnal
2020–2023 Permanent Collection Installation, Museum of Decorative Arts (UPM), collaboration with 20YY Designers and Tomáš Varga
2020 The Most Beautiful Czech Books of the Year 2019, CAMP, collaboration with Štěpán Malovec and Martin Odehnal
2019–present video documentation for the new building of the Museum of Literature (PNP)
2019 The Most Beautiful Czech Books of the Year 2018, CAMP, collaboration with 20YY Designers
2018 Jiří Kolář: Grimace of the Century, National Gallery Prague, collaboration with 20YY Designers
2018 Bonjour, Monsieur Gauguin, National Gallery Prague, collaboration with 20YY Designers

AUTHOR MONOGRAPHS

Jakub Jansa, Club of Opportunities: The Garden of Problems
Texts: Michal Novotný, Julie Béna, Kamil Nábělek, Noemi Purkrábková, Jozef Mrva Jr., Ernestyna Orlowska, Klára Vlasáková, Jan Bělíček
ISBN 978-80-88308-55-3
Publisher: UMPRUM

Jakub Jansa, Spiritual Fitness
Texts: Jakub Jansa, Alexander Campaz, Petr Hák
http://thespiritualfitness.com/

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2026
61st Venice Biennale
Czechoslovak Pavilion:
Silence of the Mole
duo show with Selmeci Kocka Jusko
curator: Peter Sit
9 May – 22 November 2026
new work (commissioned work):
author’s film (13 min, 4K)

2025
Whispers Beyond
C-Lab, Taipei, TW
screening of the film series with Li Yi-Fan
curator: Iris Hung
3 November 2025

2025
Grid Fall
Kodl Contemporary, Laichter House, Prague, CZ
duo show with Pavla Malinová
curators: Natálie Kubíková, Eva Vele
25–28 September 2025

2025
Sælæry pt. II
Kunsthalle Gent – Cinema OFF, Ghent, BE
curator: Koi Persyn
22 November 2025

2025
Sælæry pt. I
Colador Space, Brussels, BE
curator: Koi Persyn
21 October – 5 December 2025

2024
Club of Opportunities series
screening of the film series
35th LIFFe – Ljubljana International Film Festival
Ljubljana, SI
22 November 2024

2023
Garden of Problems
1/3 Thinking Through Film
curator: Sandra Baborovská
GHMP – House at the Stone Bell, Prague, CZ
8 November 2023 – 18 February 2024

2023
Club of Opportunities series
screening of the film series at Anthology Film Archives
New York, US
23 October 2023

2023
Red Herring Salon
curators: Jef Declercq, Anna Laganovska, Koi Persyn, Adriënne van der Werf
Red Herring Salon Gallery, Antwerp, BE
15 September – 1 October 2023

2021
Shame to Pride
curators: Lea Vene, Lovro Japundžić
Mocvara Gallery, Zagreb, HR
20–28 October 2021

2020
Matter of Sensitivity
curator: Kamil Nábělek
Portheimka Museum, Prague, CZ
17 September – 18 October 2020

2019
Ten Years Night
curator: Dorian Batycka
Mihelic’s Gas Station, Ljubljana, SI
24 May – 15 June 2019

2018
Club of Opportunities at PAF
curatorial team of PAF
Pioneer Works, New York, US
20 November 2018

2018
Britannica Bootcamp
curator: Élodie Gallina
CAAC, Strasbourg, FR
20 September – 28 October 2018

2018
Keeping in Line
curator: Pavel Kubesa
NoD, Prague, CZ
23 October – 26 November 2018

2018
My Name is Red Herring
curator: Jiří Ptáček
Fotograf Gallery, Prague, CZ
20 March – 14 April 2018

2018
April Showers Bring May Flowers
feat. K. Juříková
curator: Lumír Nykl
GAMU, Prague, CZ
14 March – 6 April 2018

2017
Club of Opportunities: Bowling Bar
Hunt Kastner, Prague, CZ
curator: Ján Gajdušek

2017
Look at this fern
Berlin Model, Prague, CZ
15 March 2017

2016
Spiritual Fitness
PAF – Festival of Film Animation
Olomouc, CZ
curator: Martin Mazanec
3–6 December 2016

2016
Spiritual Fitness
AM180, Prague, CZ
curator: Tina Poliačková
October 2016

2016
Spiritual Fitness
UMPRUM Graduation Exhibition
Prague, CZ
curator: David Kořínek
June 2016

2014
Engstligenalp – StartUp
curator: Monika Čejková
GHMP, Prague, CZ

COLLECTIONS

National Gallery Prague
Prague City Gallery (GHMP) – Collection of Modern and Contemporary Art
Havrlant Art Collection
Museum of Literature, Prague
Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague

EDUCATION

2020–2025
Ph.D.
Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague (UMPRUM)

2011–2016
MgA. (MFA equivalent)
Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague (UMPRUM)
Programme: Fine Arts, Studio of Supermedia

ACADEMIC POSITIONS

since 2020
Associate Professor
Faculty of Fine Arts, Brno University of Technology (FaVU VUT)

2019–present
Performance Studio (with Julie Béna)
Faculty of Fine Arts, Brno University of Technology (FaVU VUT)

2017–2019
Visiting Lecturer
Temporary Arts Studio, FAMU
Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2025
HAC #2
Mánes, Prague, CZ
curator: Ján Gajdušek
25 September – 6 October 2025

2025
Divine Action at a Distance
VUNU, Vienna, AT
curator: Niki Bernath
18 December 2025 – 31 January 2026

2025
Steirischer Herbst: Horror Patriae
curators: Ekaterina Degot, Pieternel Vermoortel, David Riff
Neue Galerie Graz, AT
19 September 2024 – 16 February 2025
new commission:
Pumpkinville (15 min, 4K)
author’s film and installation

2024
The 28th Biennial of Design (BIO28)
curators: Alexandra Midal, Emma Pflieger
Museum of Architecture and Design (MAO), Ljubljana, SI
21 November 2024 – 6 April 2025

2023
Publiek Park
curators: Jef Declercq, Anna Laganovska, Koi Persyn, Adriënne van der Werf
Harmoniepark, Albertpark & Provincietuin, Antwerp, BE
15 September – 1 October 2023
new commission:
My Name is Red Herring
site-specific installation

2023
End of the Black-and-White Era 1939–2021
permanent collection exhibition
curators: Michal Novotný, Eva Skopalová, Adéla Janíčková
National Gallery Prague, CZ
1 May 2023 – 31 December 2025

2023
Flower Union II.
curator: Michal Novotný
National Gallery Prague, CZ
10 February – 7 May 2023
new commission:
Opening Ceremony (10 min, 4K)
author’s film and installation

2022
Flower Union I.
curator: Michal Novotný
Council of the European Union, Brussels, BE
12 July – 31 December 2022
new commission:
Opening Ceremony (10 min, 4K)
author’s film and installation

2021
34th Ljubljana Biennial of Graphic Arts – ISKRA DELTA
curator: Tjaša Pogačar
various venues, Ljubljana, SI
10 September – 21 November 2021
new commission:
It’s So Physical I
multi-channel video installation

2021
Jindřich Chalupecký Award
curator: Veronika Čechová
Moravian Gallery in Brno, CZ
24 September 2021 – 27 February 2022
new commission:
Shame to Pride (20 min, 4K)
author’s film and multi-channel video installation

2020
Sanpaku Eyes
curator: Johanna Caplliure
Espai Tactel, Barcelona, ES
10 October – 5 December 2020

2020
Spiritualities
curator: Tereza Jindrová
MeetFactory, Prague, CZ
25 May – 16 August 2020
new commission:
It’s So Physical I
multi-channel video installation

2019
Avatars, Doppelgängers
HEK – House of Electronic Arts, Basel, CH
curators: Sabine Himmelsbach, Boris Magrini
16 March – 25 August 2019

2019
Healing 2.0
MeetFactory, Prague, CZ
curator: Tereza Jindrová
15 February – 7 April 2019

2019
Stumbling Through the Uncanny Valley
curator: Chen Tamir
CCA Tel Aviv, IL
7 February – 13 April 2019

2018
Healing
curator: Tereza Jindrová
Czech Center Berlin, DE
10 October – 25 November 2018

2018
Club of Opportunities at the 6th Athens Biennale – ANTI
curatorial team: Stefanie Hessler, Kostis Stafylakis, Poka-Yio
Athens, GR
26 October – 9 December 2018

2018
Supernova
curators: David Kořínek, Milan Mikuláštík
NTK Gallery, Prague, CZ
2 March – 1 April 2018

2017
In a Landscape
curator: Milan Kreuzzieger
Brno House of Arts – House of the Lords of Kunštát, Brno, CZ
8 February – 26 March 2017

2016
Better Ideas for Life 1
curators: Matthias Liechti, Ramon Feller, Jakub Jansa
Ausstellungsraum Klingental, Basel, CH
13 June – 17 July 2016

2016
Better Ideas for Life 2
curators: Matthias Liechti, Ramon Feller, Jakub Jansa
Karlin Studios, Prague, CZ
20 September – 20 October 2016

2016
Name of the Project is Project Itself
Czech Center, New York, US
9 March – 8 May 2016

2016
It Looked Different in a Dream
Klementinum, Prague, CZ
curator: David Kořínek
September – October 2016

2016
Tesseract
AMU Gallery, Prague, CZ

2015
How Not to Want Anything
curator: Radek Wohlmuth
4+4 Days in Motion, Prague, CZ
October 2015

2014
Coriander Tunnel
curators: David Kořínek, Federico Díaz
GHMP – Prague City Gallery, Prague, CZ

2013
The Shot Shrapnel Will Calm the Observer
curator: Jiří Čenický
CCC – Chinese Contemporary Art Center, Beijing, CN
2013

2013
Enter 6
curator: Milan Mikuláštík
NTK Gallery, Prague, CZ

2013
Watch Out
curator: Monika Čejková
Engstligenalp, Bern, CH
July – August 2013

2013
Industrial Revolution
Dolní Vítkovice Area (under Blast Furnace No. 1), Ostrava, CZ
curators: Zdeněk Sklenář, Federico Díaz
18–21 July 2013

2013
Conductor
Prague / Mariánské Lázně, CZ
curator: Jan Nálepa
May 2013

2012
UMPRUM 2012
curators: UMPRUM faculty and academic staff
DOX – Centre for Contemporary Art, Prague, CZ
June – July 2012

REZIDENCE

2023
Residency Unlimited
New York, US

2022
KULT XL Ateliers
Brusel, BE

2017
CEAAC
Strasbourg, FR

2015
Five-Eleven
New York, US

2013
Watch Out
Engstligenalp, Basel, CH

RESIDENCIES

2023
Residency Unlimited
New York, US

2022
KULT XL Ateliers
Brussels, BE

2017
CEAAC
Strasbourg, FR

2015
Five-Eleven
New York, US

2013
Watch Out
Engstligenalp, Basel, CH