The gallery holds a unique position within both the Czech and Central European contexts. For decades, it has shaped the discourse on architecture and served as a pillar of the professional community; it played a significant role even in the pre-revolution era, organizing pivotal and influential exhibitions despite the prevailing conditions of the time. The new director is building upon this tradition with a clear vision of the gallery as an open, sophisticated, and internationally connected space.
"A number of experienced and compelling candidates applied for the position. We were particularly impressed by Marie Kordovská’s combination of curatorial and production experience, alongside her professional focus on architecture and its exhibition. We believe she will bring fresh energy to GJF and transform it into a vibrant, open venue offering high-quality programming for both professionals and the general public," says Dalibor Hlaváček, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture at CTU.
Marie Kordovská is an architecture curator and theorist. She holds a master’s degree in the Theory and History of Art from UMPRUM, where she is currently pursuing doctoral research on the exhibition of architecture within the Czech context. She has worked as a curator and manager for the 400 ASA gallery and led the core curatorial team for UMPRUM’s biennial exhibition *Velká věc* (Big Thing). As the founder of the *Respekt Madam* project, she is dedicated to promoting post-war architecture, and she currently also serves as a researcher at the Kyoto University of the Arts in Japan. In her development strategy for the gallery, she proposes shifting to a diversified program designed to distinguish the GJF from institutions focused solely on popularization or theory. "The gallery should serve as a safe space for timely discussions on architecture—a place capable of critically examining the past while having the courage to engage with contemporary work and remain relevant through collaboration with the emerging generation," adds the new director, Marie Kordovská.
She plans to launch up to three multi-layered, long-term exhibition projects annually, combining archival or artistic research with focused curatorial work. These key exhibitions will be complemented by smaller projects, guest exhibitions from partner institutions, and showcases of student work. The program will also address pressing social issues such as affordable housing, working conditions in the field, sustainable construction, gender-related topics, and the intersection of architecture and contemporary art. A key pillar of the strategy will be leveraging an extensive network of international connections with leading institutions, such as the CCA in Montreal, the Aedes gallery in Berlin, and the Architekturmuseum in Munich.
As part of the Faculty of Architecture at the Czech Technical University (FA CTU), the GJF will also open its doors to educational activities for students. Given that architectural curating is rarely taught in the Czech Republic, the faculty will offer students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience by organizing their own exhibitions under expert supervision. The gallery’s new leadership also emphasizes its role as a space that shapes the urban environment—one with the potential to revitalize Bethlehem Square and the surrounding area through community events, neighborhood festivities, educational programs for families with children, and collaborations with local businesses, thereby bringing the gallery closer to the general public and the city's residents.