Contemporary Art Walking Tour in Prague, Czechia

Hidden Gems – Contemporary Art

The best way to visit Prague and other large cities, is to walk off the beaten path. Taking side streets, cutting through green parks, walking along the river front and bisecting neighborhood squares introduces us to unique and genuine cultural experiences. It is along these pathways that we find hidden gems – contemporary art.

During a week-long visit in Prague, I participated in many tours. Each of my guides was incredibly knowledgeable, witty and, therefore, very enjoyable. But my “wanna break free” spirit was eager to get lost among the population of 1.4 million. After a large group castle tour, I wandered, seeking to find some of Prague’s well-known contemporary art street sculptures. Post-big-group-tour turned out to be the perfect time. That art-filled afternoon became one of the highlights of my time in Prague.

The Map

The Contemporary Art Walking Tour is mapped in AllTrails. It is accessible by clicking the image below. The map includes waypoints and descriptions of each art piece. AllTrails is both a free website and a navigation app. The AllTrails Plus version provides a host of extra services for an annual fee.

Idiom – The Infinity Book Tower

• Location: The Prague Municipal Library, Mariánské náměstí 98/1, Prague 1
• Artist: Matej Krén
• Entrance Fee: Free

Housed in the Municipal Library, this tower symbolizes the limitless pursuit of knowledge and the infinite scope of learning. Comprising over 8,000 books salvaged from the trash, the installation features circular mirrors at the top and bottom. These mirrors create the illusion of an endless tunnel of books. Slovak artist Matej Krén designed and installed the piece in 1998.

There is generally a line to see the sculpture, so plan accordingly for your visit. My wait was 40 minutes, which gave me plenty of time to people watch (and spy the line-jumpers).

Learn more at the Prague Municipal Library website

Stream aka Pissing Men

• Location: Franz Kafka Museum, Cihelná 2b, 118 00 Malá Strana, Praha 1
• Artist: David Černý

Stream, dubbed “Pissing Men” by locals, is located in the courtyard of the Franz Kafka Museum. Installed in 2004, by Czech artist, David Cerny, this bronze piece is one of his many kinetic sculptures. The sculpture includes two 6′ men peeing in a pool of water that roughly resembles the map of Czechia. Kinetic sculpture integrates movement into the art form. In the case of Stream, each statue’s pelvis rotates as water flows from, shall we say, the male anatomy. The piece represents political and cultural disrespect, implying that the nation “pees on” the citizens.

The Lennon Wall

Location: Velkopřevorské náměstí, 118 00, Malá Strana, Praha 1

The Lennon Wall serves as a symbol of peace and freedom of speech. This graffiti wall constantly changes and is a method of nonviolent expression. Since the 1960s, the Lennon Wall has been a canvas for anti-communist messages and calls for peace. Though repeatedly repainted over the years, new expressions have continuously emerged. Following John Lennon’s murder in December 1980, a symbolic gravestone was placed in front of the wall. Mourners left flowers and tributes, and others inscribed heartfelt messages. The most recent restoration took place in January 2022, featuring a large, round mirror with Lennon’s face at its center. Stickers currently cover the mirror (as of October 2024).. As a result, John Lennon’s face is no longer visible. The 2022 unveiling attracted numerous European artists, who contributed their own creative expressions to this monument of peace and freedom.

Learn more about the Lennon Wall history

Crawling Babies

• Location: Kampa Park, Ostrov Kampa, 118 00 Malá Strana, Praha 1
• Artist: David Černý

Installed in 2000 by David Cerny, the 3 bronze babies are part of a collection of 10. The other 7 are climbing the Zizkov Tower located in Prague 3 district (noted on the map). The babies have barcodes rather than faces, representing the dehumanization of society. The collection of 3 babies is located beside the Kampa Museum.

Butterfly Effect – Spitfire Butterflies

• Location: Máj Národní House of Fun Complex, Národní 26, Praha 1
• Artist: David Černý

Constructed from WWII Spitfire planes, the large butterflies were installed in May 2024. The planes are mounted on the facade of the Maj Department Store, situated on Prague’s historic Národní Street. At this location in 1989, communist authorities violently suppressed a student protest. The peaceful protest ultimately sparked the Velvet Revolution, leading to the fall of communism in Czechia in 1989. According to the artist, David Černý, the “butterfly effect” suggests that even the smallest movement, like the flutter of a butterfly’s wings, can trigger a hurricane on the other side of the world. Similarly, the butterfly effect demonstrates how a peaceful protest helped to bring the end to communism.

K – Franz Kafka Head

• Location: Charvátova, 110 00 Nové Město, Praha 1
• Artist: David Černý

Installed in 2014 by David Černý, this kinetic sculpture of Franz Kafka’s head is composed of 42 rotating layers of stainless steel. Every 15 minutes, the layers shift, causing the face of the early 20th-century author to rotate. The artwork suggests that the nation’s state is Kafkaesque—absurd and oppressed.

Franz Kafka Statue

• Location: Dušní, 110 00 Staré Město, Praha 1
• Artist: Jaroslav Róna

Created by Czech-Jewish artist, Jaroslav Róna, this sculpture was installed Prague’s Jewish Quarter in December 2003. Kafka was a German-Jewish author (1883-1924). The statue depicts Franz Kafka riding on the shoulders of a headless figure. Its design is inspired by Kafka’s 1912 short story “Description of a Struggle.”

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Babies – Bonus Art Piece

• Location: Mahlerovy sady 1, 130 00, Žižkov, Praha 3
• Artist: David Černý

Located outside of the walking loop, the Žižkov Tower is worthy of the extended walk (or a bus/metro ride). The faceless fiberglass babies seem to crawl up the 709-foot-tall Žižkov Television Tower. Originally installed in 2000 as a temporary exhibit, public approval led to their permanent stay. In 2017, the original sculptures were replaced with replicas. Similar bronze versions of these babies are also located on Kampa Island near the museum. This is yet another iconic work by artist David Černý.

Learn more about the Žižkov Tower

Explore More Contemporary Art Destinations Within Prague

Praha is the Czechia name for Prague. The number behind the word designates the district.

Praha 1

• Kunsthalle Praha – Gallery – Klárov 5 118 00, Praha 1
• Memorial to the Victims of Communism by Olbram Zoubek – Monument – Újezd, 118 00, Malá Strana, Praha 1
• Museum Kampa – Museum – U Sovových mlýnů 2, 118 00 Malá Strana, Praha 1
• National Gallery Prague – Gallery – Multiple sites
• Slight Uncertainty by Michal Trpák – Statues – Multiple sites

Praha 7

• Center for Contemporary Arts Prague – Gallery – Dukelských Hrdinů 500, 170 00 Letná, Praha 7
• DOX Centre for Contemporary Art – Gallery – Poupětova 1, 170 00 Holesovice, Praha 7

Praha 8

• Lilith by David Černý- Statue – Sokolovská / Za Invalidovnou, 180 00, Karlín, Praha 8
• Futurama Business Park by Zdeněk Ruffer – Statues – Sokolovská 663, 186 00 Karlín, Praha 8
• The Medusas Universe by Michal Skapa aka Tron – Mural – Křižíkova 76/61 186 00 Karlín, Praha 8