Galerie Via Art

Galerie Via Art is one of the oldest privately run contemporary art galleries in Prague, housed in the lower level of the Church of St. Wenceslas on Zderaz in Prague 2. The setting itself is part of the draw: raw stone walls and vaulted ceilings from a medieval church now frame paintings, sculptures, and installations by contemporary artists — a combination you won't find in a standard white-cube gallery.

Where is the gallery located?

You'll find it at Resslova 6, Praha 2-Nové Město, a short walk from Náměstí Míru and the Karlovo náměstí metro station (line B). Its central location makes it easy to combine with a stroll through Prague's New Town, including the nearby Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius, known for its role in the wartime Operation Anthropoid.

What's the story behind this gallery?

Galerie Via Art was founded in 1990 by Radka and Zdeněk Freisleben, opening its doors to the public on June 25, 1991. It emerged shortly after the Velvet Revolution, during the first wave of independent exhibition spaces in Czechoslovakia, and counts among the pioneers of that movement — it has operated continuously for more than three decades, making it one of Prague's longest-running private galleries. Its home, the lower section of the former Church of St. Wenceslas on Zderaz, gives every exhibition a distinctive backdrop: Gothic stonework and arches instead of blank gallery walls.

What will you see inside?

The gallery's program centers on contemporary art — painting, sculpture, installations, and multimedia work — mostly by mid-career and younger-generation artists. Via Art favors dialogue between different creative viewpoints, hosting both solo shows and exhibitions that put contrasting approaches to contemporary art side by side. International exhibitions and artist-exchange projects also appear regularly in the schedule, bringing work from outside the Czech Republic to a Prague audience.

When should you visit?

The gallery reopened in early 2025 after an extended reconstruction, so it's worth checking the current exhibition schedule before you go, since the program rotates with each new show. Visiting on a weekday, outside peak tourist hours, gives you room to take in the art without a crowd — and the former church interior itself is worth a slower look regardless of what's on display.

Frequently asked questions

Is Galerie Via Art really located inside a church? Yes — the gallery occupies the lower part of the Church of St. Wenceslas on Zderaz, a historic sacred building in Prague 2, which gives its exhibitions an unusually raw, atmospheric setting.

How far is it from central Prague? Very close. Resslova 6 sits in the New Town, just a few minutes' walk from Náměstí Míru and the Karlovo náměstí metro stop.

What kind of art will I see there? Mostly contemporary work by Czech artists of the middle and younger generations — painting, sculpture, and installations — alongside occasional international projects.

How long has the gallery been open? It was founded in 1990 and opened to the public in 1991, making it one of the first and longest-running private contemporary art galleries in Prague.