Studio IRDS
Ingrid Račková (b. 1975, Liptovský Mikuláš) and David Suchopárek (b. 1973 in Rakovník) form a distinguished artistic duo within contemporary Czech glass art, recognized for their disciplined sculptural language, conceptual rigor, and exceptional precision. Their collaborative practice is rooted in a deep commitment to geometry, structural clarity, and the transformative potential of glass as a sculptural medium.
Both artists studied at the University of Applied Arts in Prague, one of Europe’s most influential centers for glass education. Ingrid Račková trained at the Glass Studio of Professor Vladimír Kopecký, while David Suchopárek studied at the Glass in Architecture Studio of Professor Marian Karel. During their academic years, they developed a shared artistic vision and personal dialogue that led to the founding of IRDS Studio in 2001—a platform through which their joint sculptural and pictorial work has since evolved.
Central to their sculptural practice is an intense engagement with geometry and precision. Their optical glass sculptures frequently take the form of pyramidal or architectonic artifacts, constructed with exacting control over proportion, surface, and internal structure. These forms operate as conceptual metaphors—symbolizing a search for what is attainable, rational, and ordered—while simultaneously reflecting the complexity of thought and perception.
Within these works, light is not merely a visual element but an active force. Thoughts and ideas are suggested as deflected, redirected, distributed, or concentrated within the glass mass, shaped by both internal structure and external conditions. The result is a body of work that is at once analytical and poetic, combining intellectual abstraction with a powerful physical presence.
Alongside their sculptural output, Račková and Suchopárek also create glass paintings, extending their exploration of geometry, transparency, and spatial tension into a two-dimensional plane. Through layered compositions and restrained chromatic language, these works translate sculptural thinking into pictorial form, maintaining a strong conceptual continuity with their three-dimensional practice.
Entirely handcrafted and produced in small quantities due to the demanding nature of optical glass work, each piece bears subtle individuality. Through IRDS Studio, Ingrid Račková and David Suchopárek have established a distinctive position within collectible contemporary glass—where geometry, precision, and conceptual depth converge into a coherent artistic language.