Kriz Art

Vitae

Milan Kriz born in 1945, in very hostile times for all Europe, and, indeed, for the former Czechoslovaquia. He spent his first years in his natal town, Námest n./Osl., Czech Republic.

Looking for a way to express his inner feelings, he studied at the Fine-art School in Brno and then obtained a superior degree at the Fine-art Prague Academy, below the mentoring of the Masters Prof. Vincent Makovský and Prof. Karel Lidický.

He finally left his country and became an universal citizen, this hard decision was taken, despite of his socialistic beliefs, based on the freedom limitations of the soviet regimen; and, indeed, it soon influenced deeply his art motivations, inspiration and techniques. Milan Kriz obtained the Venezuelan citizenship in 1983 and he currently lives in Caracas, Venezuela, while his opus is broadcasting over the planet.

Milan Kriz defines himself as an humanist, and a perpetual seeker for the global alter ego: the ultimate status for the spiritual evolution of mankind, in his words: “Art is about freeing your mind and expressing emotions. Using the raw material to find the inner image that it contains, trying to capture the essence of the spiritual world that is all around us”. That is why his creations feature what worldwide critics have realized as a deeply felt abstract expressionism. His art pieces are made from a wide spectrum of classical and modern raw materials and techniques: including sculptures of wood, marble, coral, bronze, and even epoxy resin and bronze-ready positive originals in clay; Milan Kriz’s paintings are found most of oil on canvas but he uses oil on formic too; his engravings were made most on hard paper with linoleum plates but the artist has realized that ancient wood is also good for some works.

Milan Kriz tragically died in his beloved Venezuela during violent times resulting from the social crisis and increased crime rates in the south American country.

In this site you will find the more accurate information relating this unique artist, his professional life is fully shown at the vitae pages, an a very friendly online catalog is available at the opus pages. If you want more information about any related subject you can even take a brief view of the available Milan Kriz web links

Awards

Below you will find a list of the awards received by Milan Kriz in various artistic events he has participated:

  • 1996 “Simón Bolívar” International Airport. Maiquetía, Venezuela.
    Special Mention in Sculpture. Award received at the “I Simón Bolívar International Airport Art Saloon”.
  • 1988 “Juan Manuel Cajigal” Naval Observatory. Caracas, Venezuela.
    Acknowledgement Diploma. Diploma in acknowledgement of help and support given to the Art Exhibition “Centenary of the Observatory”.
  • 1982 Education Ministry Caracas, Venezuela.
    Award in Sculpture. Award received at the “XVIII Armando Reverón National Annual Saloon”.
  • 1976 Venezuela’s Professor Association Valencia, Venezuela.
    Honored Mention. Award received at the “III Fine Arts Annual Saloon”.
  • 1965 Academy of the Fine Arts Prague, Czech Republic.
    Award in Sculpture. Award received in acknowledgement of the academic excellence.

Critiques

Here you can review a few critiques that have been stated by world class critics for more than twenty five years about Milan Kriz’s art work (original language shown and a free English translation included):

“Un artista que defiende su arte y su derecho a permanecer al margen de una ‘gran ciudad’ que cada día se nos hace más insoportable e inhumana“. (An artist who defends his art and his right to keep out of the ‘big city’ that becomes everyday more insufferable and inhuman).

Napoleón Pisani, Venezuela 1977.

“Emana una struggente malinconia dalle sculture di Milan Kriz, scavate nel legno o nel sasso con sottile sensibilità, ferite profonde e avvolgenti“. (A struggling melancholy projects the Milan Kriz’s sculptures, deep and overwhelming wounds are carved in the wood or in the stone with delicate sensibility).

Ferdinando Arisi, Italy 1979.

“Son obras de una fuerza expresiva donde predomina la línea ascendente y la materia penetrada de cauces que se elevan. ¿En una búsqueda metafísica? ¿En una interrogación con lo divino?“. (They’re creations of a expressive strength, where the ascending lines and material penetrations domain together in elevating carvings. Is it a metaphysic search?. Is it a inquiry with the divine thing? ).

Milagros Bello, Venezuela 1987.

“Sus obras buscan expresar la idea de un ente divino y trascendente, partiendo de la aprehensión ‘esencial’ del Hombre y de la Naturaleza…(una) afirmación del vínculo substancial que emparenta lo terrenal con lo divino, temporalidad y eternidad.”.(His creations want to express the idea of a divine and transcendent being, departing from the essential apprehensions of the Man and the Nature… One affirmation of the substantial link that joins the materiality with the divinity, the temporality with the eternity).

Katherine Chacón, Venezuela 1987.

“Su punto de partida es una especie de expresionismo casi abstracto, matérico, pero con un tratamiento cada vez más espiritualizado…“. (His start point is a kind of expressionism almost abstract, solid, but with a more spiritual treatment each time).

Pável Stepánek, Venezuela 1994.

“Possessed of a rich inner world he prefers to relate his profoundly felt spiritual experiences through his enigmatic semi-abstracts sculptures“.

Russel Maddicks, Daily Journal Staff 1995.

“Als material dienen ihm Korallen, in die er seine streng geometrischen vorstellungen hineinwirkt. Kriz orientiert sich nach alten vorbildern, seine werke erinern an die statuen auf den weihnachtsinseln.“. (He serves from coral as material. His strictly geometric conceptions appeal from within it. Kriz orientates his search towards ancient paragons and his work reminds the Christmas Island’s Statues.).

Der Zürichbieter, Switzerland 1979.

“Wächst aus dem bereich des geheimnisvollen in eine sichtbarkeit empor, die formal überzeugt, obwohl die plastiken–oft im seltenen material von korallen geschaffen–eine unbestimmte gestaltung aufweisen. Man kann den künstler wohl als einen der Höhepunkte dieser ausstellung ansprechen. Namentlich seine linolschnitte lassen ahnen, dass hier der Weg von Kadinsky Über Johnny Friedlaender zu einer neuen welt ungegenständlicher struckture geführt hat.“. (He increases the range of mistery in one upper visibility: the formal confident, even though the sculpture –often created in rare materials as coral — shows one endless configuration. We can afirm that the artist is at one of the climaxes of exhibition reactions. His linoleum engravings raise namely forefathers, here the way has guided from Kadinsky trhu Johny Friedlaender to one new world of unasimilatable structure).

Neue Züricher Nachrichten, Switzerland 1979.

Jobs

Milan Kriz has performed several job positions along his career in Arts, and among them are:

  • Since 1997 Athenaeum “Pascual Navarro” Caracas, Venezuela.
    Fine Art Director.
  • Since 1994 Czech – Venezuelan Association Caracas, Venezuela.
    Cultural Vote.
  • Since 1989 Independent Caracas, Venezuela.
    Medal Designer.
  • Since 1971 Independent Czech Re., Italy, Switzerland, Venezuela.
    Sculptor, Painter, Engraver.
  • 1971 – 1973 Several Ancient Art Museums. Prague, Czech Republic.
    Art Curator.
  • 1963 – 1964 Several museums and galleries Brno, Czech Republic.
    Art Exhibition Designer and Organizer.

Education

Here you have a brief sample of the formal education of Milan Kriz

  • 1964 – 1970 Academy of the Fine Arts Prague, Czech Republic.
    Academic Sculptor, Sculpture Professor.
    Under the mentorship of Czech fineart masters:
    Prof. Vincent Makovský and Prof. Karel Lidický.
  • 1959 – 1963 S.U.P.S. (Artistic Artisans School) Brno, Czech Republic.
    Artistic Decorator.
  • 1951 – 1959 O.S.S. (Elementary School) Brno, Czech Republic.
    Elementary Diploma.

Permanent Exhibitions

You can enjoy Milan Kriz artwork in several public sites mostly in Venezuela, as instance:

  • Governor’s House, Cojedes State San Carlos, Venezuela.
    Bust of Gral. Ezequiel Zamora, bronze, 130cms high, 1985.
    Bust of Miguelángel Granados, bronze, 65cms high, 1984.
    Bust of Mauricio Pérez Lazo, bronze, 65cms high, 1984
  • Mayor’s House, Petare County. Caracas, Venezuela.
    Bust of Lorenzo Fernández, bronze, 75cms high, 1983.
  • Andrés Bello’s House, Caracas, Venezuela.
    Relief Andrés Bello, framed epoxy resin. 1983.
  • Governor’s House of Caracas, Caracas, Venezuela.
    Sculpture “Victory”, mahogany wood, 66cms high, 1983.
  • University of the National Armed Forces, Maracay, Venezuela.
    Sculpture “Leader”, cypress wood, 147cms high, 1990.
  • Channel 51(CMT: Canal Metropolitano), Caracas, Venezuela.
    Sculpture “In Mom’s Lap”, “casuarina” wood, 209cms high, 1990.
  • Caracas Sacred Museum, Caracas, Venezuela
    Sculpture “Messenger”, “casuarina” wood, 140cms high, 1986.
  • Hospital “Salvador Allende”, Cumaná, Venezuela.
    Relief “Salvador Allende”, marble compound, 100cms high, 1997.

Historical Exhibitions

Among all exhibitions Milan Kriz has participated in, this is the most comprehensive list we could assemble:

2000 Exterior Affairs Ministry Caracas, Venezuela.
Collective Exhibition. X National Exhibition and IV International Exhibition “Our little ones beside the great ones” organized by the National Association against Infantile Paralysis.
2000 University “Santa María” Caracas, Venezuela.
Collective Exhibition.
1999 Czech Republic Embassy Caracas, Venezuela.
Solo Exhibition.
1998 Athenaeum “Pascual Navarro” Caracas, Venezuela.
Collective Exhibition. Exhibition “Art on the Street”.
1997 Foundation B’Nai, B’Rith Caracas, Venezuela.
Collective Exhibition. Exhibition “Trazos, RAS-guños, Volúmenes” in the memory of Eduardo Robles Piquer (RAS).
1997 Association Pro-Venezuela Caracas, Venezuela.
Collective Exhibition. II National Encounter “AVAP is all of us”.
1996/97 Museum Caracas. Caracas, Venezuela
Collective Exhibition. Exhibition “Artists for the life” organized by the Civil Association “José Alberto Totesaut Salicetti”
1996 International Airport “Simón Bolívar”. Maiquetía, Venezuela.
Collective Exhibition.
1996 Chacao County’s Cultural House. Caracas, Venezuela.
Collective Exhibition.
1996 Association Pro-Venezuela. Caracas, Venezuela.
Collective Exhibition. Saloon organized by Venezuelan Association of Fine Artists (AVAP).
1995 Venezuelan Association of Fine Artists. Caracas, Venezuela.
Solo Exhibition.
1995 Sacred Museum of Caracas. Caracas, Venezuela.
Solo Exhibition. Exhibition “Elevation”.
1995 Catholic University “Andres Bello”. Caracas, Venezuela.
Solo Exhibition.
1994/95 Sacred Museum of Caracas. Caracas, Venezuela.
Collective Exhibition. Exhibition “Hosanna”.
1994 Art and Antiques “RA”. Caracas, Venezuela.
Collective Exhibition.
1994 Federation of the Industrial Chambers. Caracas. Venezuela.
Solo Exhibition.
1994 Czech Republic Embassy. Caracas, Venezuela.
Solo Exhibition.
1993 Israeli Union “Synagogue Caracas” Caracas, Venezuela.
Collective Exhibition. XVI Art Annual Saloon “Bijoux Wizo”
1993 Gallery BASS. Caracas, Venezuela.
Collective Exhibition.
1992 Israeli Union “Synagogue Caracas” Caracas, Venezuela.
Collective Exhibition. XV Art Annual Saloon “Bijoux Wizo”.
1991 Venezuelan Olympic Committee. Caracas, Venezuela.
Collective Exhibition. Exhibition “Art and Sports”.
1991 Gallery Saskia Art, C.A. Caracas, Venezuela.
Collective Exhibition.
1990 Venezuela’s Central Bank. Caracas, Venezuela.
Collective Exhibition. I Venezuela’s Central Bank Sculpture Saloon.
1989 Hippodrome “La Rinconada” Caracas, Venezuela.
Collective Exhibition.
1988 Swiss Society “Max Bollag” Zurich, Switzerland.
Public Auction. Event organized by the Schweizerische Gesellscheft der Freunde von Kunstauktionen “Max Bollag” (Swiss Society of Art Auction’s Friends “Max Bollag”).
1987 Federal District Governor’s House. Caracas, Venezuela.
Solo Exhibition.
1986 Art College “Emil Friedman”. Caracas, Venezuela.
Collective Exhibition. I “Emil Friedmann” College’s Cultural Association Fine Arts Saloon.
1986 Israeli Union “Synagogue Caracas” Caracas, Venezuela.
Collective Exhibition. IX “Bijoux Wizo” Fine Art Annual Saloon.
1985 Gallery: Contini, C.A. Caracas, Venezuela.
Solo Exhibition.
1982 “Casa de la Cultura de Maracay” Maracay, Venezuela.
Collective Exhibition. VII Aragua State National Art Saloon Saloon.
1982 Saloon: “Armando Reverón” Caracas, Venezuela.
Collective Exhibition. XVIII “Armando Reverón” National Annual Saloon.
1981 Gallery: Galipán, C.A. Caracas, Venezuela.
Permanent Exhibition.
1980 Gallery: Durban, C.A. Caracas, Venezuela.
Permanent Exhibition.
1979 Gallery: Ra. Zurich, Switzerland.
Collective Exhibition.
1979 Gallery: Spelta, C.A. Piacenza, Italy.
Solo Exhibition.
1978 Gallery: Maison Beinard, C.A. Caracas, Venezuela.
Collective Exhibition.
1976 “Casa de la Cultura de Valencia” Valencia, Venezuela.
Collective Exhibition. III Fine Arts Annual Saloon.
1976 National Culture Council (CONAC) Caracas, Venezuela.
Solo Exhibition.
1975/82 Gallery: Contini, C.A. Caracas, Venezuela.
Permanent Exhibition.
1975 Caracas Athenaeum. Caracas, Venezuela.
Solo Exhibition.
1973 CIME Napoli, Italy.
Permanent Exhibition.
1972/73 Valdstein’s Gardens. Prague, Czech Rep.
Collective Exhibition.