The 1918–1938 Collection Exhibition: This exhibition commemorates the 100th anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia and showcases the rich artistic production and cultural life of the young state during the years 1918–1938. In addition to paintings and sculptures by leading Czech, Slovak, Czech-German, and Carpathian-Rus artists (including Václav Špála, Josef Čapek, Jindřich Štyrský, Toyen, August Brӧmse, Maxim Kopf, and Wenzel Hablik), the exhibition also features works from the renowned French collection (including Paul Gauguin, Henri Rousseau, Pablo Picasso, and Vincent van Gogh), which the Czechoslovak state acquired shortly after its founding in the 1920s and 1930s.

This exhibition project is a medium-term collection exhibition located on the 3rd floor of the Trade Fair Palace. Based on the collections of the National Gallery in Prague, supplemented by loans from other institutions and private collections, it presents the rich and cosmopolitan artistic production and cultural life of the two-decade-long independent Czechoslovakia, from 1918 to 1938. It is not limited to fine art, but also includes interdisciplinary aspects through the presentation of other cultural and artistic fields of the First Republic (book publishing, design, applied graphic design, etc.).

The exhibition presents the art of the First Republic through the eyes of a contemporary art enthusiast, featuring key galleries, art associations, and other cultural institutions. It introduces visitors to important cultural centers, primarily the capital city as an artistic center with a vibrant exhibition scene, showcasing the works of both domestic and foreign artists. Other centers include Brno, Zlín, Bratislava, Košice, and Užhorod. The exhibition includes partial reconstructions of significant exhibitions that took place in these centers during the First Republic, such as the "Stubborn" exhibition, the "Exhibition of Contemporary Culture" in Brno, "Poesie 1932," and the "First Surrealist Exhibition in Czechoslovakia." The exhibition is not limited to purely fine art, but also includes interdisciplinary aspects, ranging from book typography to applied design.

Within this time frame and geographical scope, the project presents significant events in the field of visual arts during the so-called First Republic, with an emphasis on the cosmopolitan and multi-ethnic character of its territory. This approach aims not only to present, with historical accuracy, the richness and diversity of the culture of the young state, but also to serve as a lesson for the present day, when a lack of knowledge of the past often leads to xenophobic attitudes. The exhibition is also accompanied by a rich educational and professional supporting program.

Curatorial team: Anna Pravdová, in collaboration with Lada Hubatová-Vacková
Trade Fair Palace – 3rd floor

Since October 2023, the exhibition has been part of the AUDIO GUIDE, which was created in conjunction with the documentary exhibition 100 Years of the French Collection.
Twelve works from this exhibition and eight works from the exhibition 1796–1918: Art of a Long Century are accompanied by expert commentary that you can listen to on your own device. Please be considerate of others and use headphones.

The exhibition was created with financial support from the , and it was inaugurated as part of the celebrations commemorating significant anniversaries of 2018 related to the Czech state.

Czech Post, Postal Museum
Kunsthalle Prague
Moravian Gallery in Brno
City Museum of Brno
National Film Archive
National Museum – Náprstek Museum of Asian, African, and American Cultures
National Museum – Historical Museum
Regional Gallery Liberec
Memorial of National Literature in Prague
Slovak National Gallery
Tate, London
Technical Museum in Brno
Museum of Arts and Crafts in Prague
East Slovak Gallery, Košice
East Slovak Museum in Košice
Private collections

https://www.ngprague.cz/udalost/404/1918-1938-prvni-republika