David Lynch headlines DOX Prague's stellar 2025 lineup of exhibits

The DOX Centre for Contemporary Art in Prague has announced its 2025 program, with a major highlight that positions it as a significant cultural venue for the coming year: an expansive exhibition by the renowned American filmmaker and artist David Lynch.

Titled In Flames, the retrospective will explore Lynch’s lesser-known visual art practice alongside his more familiar contributions to cinema, music, and literature. The exhibition will run from April to November.

While Lynch is widely celebrated for films such as Eraserhead and Mulholland Drive, his artistic career began with painting and sculpture. Otto M. Urban, the exhibition’s curator, noted that Lynch’s artistic and musical pursuits have been consistent since the 1960s, demonstrating a creative range that extends far beyond film.

“Few people realize that he is an art school graduate who has maintained his practice in multiple media,” Urban said. “He is the kind of creator who aligns perfectly with DOX’s approach to contemporary art.”

The exhibition will present a comprehensive selection of Lynch’s work, from early pieces to new creations, alongside a series of film screenings, music performances, and literary events. A collaboration with Paris’s Item Éditions and Los Angeles’s Pace Gallery, the exhibition opens on April 24.

Lynch is no stranger to Czechia. In the 1980s, the filmmaker came to Prague to score Blue Velvet, composed by Angelo Badalamenti. He would later go on to score Lost Highway and Mulholland Drive in the Czech capital.

In spring 2024, a 6.5-meter tall sculpture of the acclaimed Twin Peaks director was installed in Santa Monica, courtesy of Czech artist David Černý. Černý's artistic representation commented on the piece: “Who would be the modern-day Franz Kafka of Los Angeles? It would be David Lynch."

Another major feature of DOX’s program is a visit from Turkish Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk in March. Pamuk’s conceptual exhibition, The Comfort of Things, which has been on display since last year, concludes in April. The writer, whose work often bridges literature and visual art, will present his new novel, Plague Nights, during his visit.

“Pamuk wanted to be a painter before becoming a writer, and that artistic impulse continues to inform his work,” said Michaela Šilpochová, DOX’s curator and artistic director.

In May, the center will host a major exhibition by American photographer Joel-Peter Witkin, featuring 80 works created after 2010. Known for his provocative and meticulously composed images, Witkin’s work delves into themes of mortality, beauty, and the grotesque.

DOX’s programing will also include solo exhibitions by Czech-British artist Hynek Martinec and sculptor Marek Škubal. Martinec’s Cyberlemon, opening in March, promises a site-specific mural exploring surreal and conceptual themes, while Škubal’s Prometheus will present recent sculptures in an exhibition beginning Jan. 24.

The Fall Festival of Arts, Literature, and Education returns in October for its third iteration, focusing on themes of censorship and self-censorship through public readings and discussions. Additional programming includes performances by the Farm in the Cave ensemble, concerts, and the 15th International Shakuhachi Festival in June, celebrating Japanese musical traditions.

Now entering its 17th year, DOX continues to expand its reach. With over 900 annual events, including 800 dedicated to education, the center remains a space for both public engagement and artistic experimentation. To date, it has welcomed over 1.3 million visitors, with plans to surpass last year’s attendance of 93,000.

Follow DOX's website and socials for updates on new exhibits.