The exhibition From the Books of My Heart by graphic artist, painter and illustrator Katarína Vavrová, presented at the City Library of Piešťany in cooperation with BIBIANA, the International House of Art for Children, and KUW Gallery, showcases her illustration work from the past ten years.

Much like her teacher, Professor Albín Brunovský, who was closely connected to poetry – particularly the poetry of the Trnava Group – knew it intimately and understood it, his most successful student is also deeply drawn to poetry and has a remarkable ability to translate it into visual art. This is also evident in the present exhibition, which features paintings and illustrations from twelve books, nine of them collections of poetry by some of her favourite poets.

Among the authors closest to her heart, visitors can admire works inspired by Charles Baudelaire, Milan Rúfus, Karel Jaromír Erben, Maša Haľamová, Jan Skácel and a selection of poems by Ľubomír Feldek, all retold through the language of colour and line. Just a few days ago, a selection of poems by Miroslav Válek was published, and it is already on display here.

A great rarity and an exclusive experience for art lovers and bibliophiles is the opportunity to see illustrations from two books that have not yet been published. Karel Hynek Mácha’s May will be published during the exhibition, while a collection of poems by the only Czechoslovak Nobel Prize laureate in Literature (1984), Jaroslav Seifert, is due to be published before Christmas.

With her illustrations for the book Slovak Songs, Vavrová made it to the final shortlist of the International Jury of the 2025 Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava. At the end of 2025, she was also awarded the Ľudovít Fulla Award for her lifelong contribution to illustration for children.

Katarína Vavrová – From the Books of My Heart

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