Description
Ryba, Petra Hřebačková, 2026
The work Fish from 2026 belongs to Petra Hřebačková’s most recent body of work and demonstrates her ability to translate a recognisable natural motif into a highly refined contemporary visual language. At first glance, the basic inspiration is immediately legible – the curved lower form suggests the body of a fish, while the taller upright section may evoke a fin or the movement of the body through water. The artist does not, however, develop the motif descriptively. This is not a realistic depiction of a fish, but rather an exploration of movement, direction and lightness.
It is precisely this reduction that gives the work its strength. Instead of anatomical detail, Petra Hřebačková works with several precisely defined planes that intersect while simultaneously creating a sense of fluid movement. The lower part of the object feels soft and stable, while the upper segment rises upwards and gives the entire composition a sense of energy. Fish therefore does not appear as a static object. It captures a moment of movement.
The colour palette is based primarily on transitions between yellow-green, green and blue tones. These do not appear as isolated colour fields, but as a continuous transformation that changes within the glass according to its thickness and the viewing angle. This gradual shift in colour strongly supports the organic character of the work.
In the lighter areas, the glass appears delicate and almost translucent, while along the edges and in the thicker sections the colour becomes more concentrated and gains greater depth. The blue tones in the lower part visually anchor the object, while the lighter green and yellow-green areas guide the eye upwards.
A narrow red to pink accent enters this harmonious palette and runs through the centre of the composition. It functions almost like a sharp cut or line of tension connecting the two main parts of the object. It is precisely this intervention that prevents Fish from appearing purely soft or organic. It gives the work a more precise rhythm and a clearly defined internal structure.
As with many of Petra Hřebačková’s works, the apparent lightness of the finished object is based on highly precise craftsmanship.
The individual parts must be carefully planned not only in terms of form but also in relation to the way they will interact with colour, transparency and light once assembled. Thermal processing and controlled cooling are followed by mechanical finishing, which defines the final geometry of the object.
Grinding is crucial here. The ground surfaces create the sharp transitions between the individual sections and determine how light enters the glass and reflects from its edges. Subsequent polishing optically opens the surface and allows the colour transitions within the material to come fully to the fore.
In Fish, this contrast is especially important: an organic source of inspiration is expressed through a highly precise, almost architecturally constructed form.
With dimensions of 29 × 39 × 8.5 cm, the work has highly suitable proportions for a contemporary interior. The object can function well on an independent plinth, console or chest of drawers. Thanks to its relatively shallow depth, it does not require a large installation surface, but it benefits from sufficient free space around it so that both its silhouette and the relationship between the two main sections can be properly perceived.
Light is particularly important. In natural daylight, the colour transitions appear light and fresh. Side lighting, by contrast, emphasises the thickness of the glass, the darker edges and the red internal accent. Against a light background, the colour itself becomes especially prominent, while a darker setting can give the object greater depth and drama.
Fish is well suited to a contemporary residential interior, study, entrance area or representative space, where it can function as a distinctive yet refined standalone piece.
Fish is a new work from 2026 and represents a highly current aspect of Petra Hřebačková’s practice. For collectors, it is particularly compelling because of the way it combines a recognisable source of inspiration with a highly reduced visual solution. The motif is clear, yet never literal. The work therefore functions equally well as an independent glass sculpture and as an object carrying a strong association with movement and nature.
This balance between the concrete and the abstract is one of its strongest qualities. Fish captures movement without actually moving – transforming a simple natural motif into a precise composition of colour, light and space.
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