Sarka Darton, Republic Czech

- Artistic biography
Šárka Darton is a Czech-born artist, whose multimedia practice explores the relationships between people, places and architecture, examining the notion of identity in the context of our occupation of ever-changing space and time. Her work is held in private and corporate collections in the UK and internationally.

Darton studied Art and Design in SUPS Turnov,Czech Republic, specialising in stonecutting and engraving before winning anacademic scholarship to study enamelling at Dresden School of Art and Design in 1987.
After a short career as a restorerof paintings and wooden sculptures at the Museum of Eastern Bohemia, Darton moved to the UK in 1993 where she studiedjewellery and fashion design. In 2005 she graduated from the University of Chichester with a first-class degree in Fine Art and in 2015 Darton has been awarded MFA (Masters of Fine Art) from University of Sussex, UK. Her postgraduate career has seen her undertake several private and corporate commissions for mural paintings, including one for the Earl of March at GoodWood, West Sussex, UK.

“Addressing issues of identity and the relationship between people, places and architecture, my art is about the process of looking and seeing: our awareness of the time and space that we occupy. Like many artists who come to live in a different country to that of their childhood and adolescence, I see my own identity as somewhat ambiguous and use my art as a means of working through this ambiguity.

Always looking for new ways in which my art will create a space, rather than simply occupy it, my aim is to give the viewer a sense of being within the work and not just standing in front of it.”

Selected exhibitions/awards :

2016
Triennale ITALIA, Verona PalaExpo, Verona, Italy.
Meaning, Candida Stevens Fine Art Gallery, Chichester, UK. WAW, Woman’s Art World, Marrakech, Maroko.
Oxford International Art Fair, Global Art Agency, Oxford, UK. Art Rooms 2016, Melia White House Hotel, London, UK.

2015
Michelangelo International Award, Rome, Italy.
Florence Biennale, Linea Spazio Arte Contemporanea, Florence, Italy.
Finalist South of England Award, Pallant House Gallery, Chichester, UK. Divergence, The Brick Lane Gallery, London, UK
Artists in the World, ArtExpo’Metropolis, Art Gallery La Vaccarella, Rome, Italy. Art Rooms 2015, Melia White House Hotel, London, UK.

2014
Finalist and Prize Winner EWAAC international open art competition, La Galleria, Pall Mall Gallery, London, UK.

2013
Finalist NOA National Open Art Competition, Royal College of Art, London.
Finalist South of England Award, Pallant House Gallery, Chichester, UK.

2012
Finalist and Highly Commended, Stride Open Competition, Ox Market Gallery, Chichester, UK.

2006
Finalist and Prize Winner, Stride Open Competition, Ox Market Gallery, Chichester, UK.

2005
Finalist and Prize Winner, Sussex Art Society, Chichester, UK
The Princess in the Tower, ChodovskaTvrz Gallery, Prague, Czech Republic.

Šárka Darton