Matěj Olmer will present an exhibition in Olomouc inspired by Baudelaire's poem

Matěj Olmer

Themes – The themes of death, transience, physical decay, and constant transformation are explored in an exhibition of works by painter and street artist Matěj Olmer in Olomouc. The exhibition titled A Carcass will take place from June 10 to August 31 in the industrial space SOMA – Center for Contemporary Art and Psychotherapy located in the Faculty Hospital Olomouc. The exhibition was created in collaboration with the Street Art Festival 2026, whose current edition carries the subtitle Here We Are!, communicated today by festival director Romana Junkerová.

Olmer's installation builds on the long-term motifs of his work. The title refers to the eponymous poem by Charles Baudelaire. "The exhibition space metaphorically resembles the interior of a grave or a world governed by fate, where the viewer moves among large-format canvases creating a compact, almost organic structure," stated Junkerová.

According to the organizers, Olmer is characterized by an intuitive approach to gesture, layering, and vivid color. He finds inspiration not only in painting techniques and the principle of collage but also in his own poetic creation. In addition to gallery projects, he has long been involved in interventions in public spaces. Among his well-known works is the large-format painting Landscape Possessed by Darkness created for the Florenc metro station in Prague.

The SOMA space, where the exhibition will be installed, is a community project supported by the Faculty Hospital Olomouc and the Olomouc Museum of Art. The center connects contemporary art, psychotherapy, and community activities. It focuses on sharing experiences, education, and working with various forms of trauma through artistic expressions. It is located in an industrial building designed by architect Bedřich Rozehnal in the northeastern part of the hospital complex.