Libor Hurda

Libor Hurda was born on 6 December 1971 in the Pelhřimov region, where his forge still stands in Onšovice near Pelhřimov. From 1986 to 1990 he studied at the Secondary School of Applied Arts in Turnov in the studio of the academic sculptor Jan Mastník. Since 1992 he has worked as an independent artistic blacksmith and sculptor.

Although he starts from traditional blacksmithing and metal-beating methods, his works are markedly contemporary. He works mostly with metal, which he combines with wood, glass or antlers. He does both free work and commissions. It was his father who brought him to the craft, and Hurda often quotes his advice: “anyone who can work iron can work anything”.

His documented works include the four-metre sculpture Ferryman, the kinetic object Free Francis, and also Steely Angel, Prognostic, Waiting for Water, Time and Ego. His works can also be found abroad — in the Netherlands, Italy and Saudi Arabia. Since 1997 he has held the prize of the Masaryk Academy of Arts and is listed among four Czech artists in the American publication “From Fire To Form”.

At the Art in the City festival in České Budějovice he was the author of the work Ego, installed on Zátkovo nábřeží.