A brief history

Magdalena Krivošikova was born in 1947 in Zvolen, former Czechoslovakia. In Bratislava she studied Fine Arts. As a consequence of the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, she took a detour via France for Sweden, which then became Ms Cerha’s new home.

In Stockholm in the early 1970’s Ms Cerha worked in advertising for Arbman’s, and with the Arts Academy in mind, enrolled at Idun Loven’s private art school to build her skills and portfolio.

In 1974, she married Jaroslav Cerha, a Swedish media and market researcher, also from the former Czechoslovakia.

From 1974 to present, Ms Cerha has produced a substantial body of work in oil, watercolor, charcoal drawings, and cement sculptures. Ms Cerha’s interest in plants and sustainability has manifested itself in the form of an unconventional garden. She companion-plants ornamentals, herbs and vegetables in rich mosaics of color and texture – a method that has regained popularity recently. To maximize her harvest, she utilized local resources such as manure from nearby stables, or decayed tree stumps from bountiful forests. Come autumn, Ms Cerha forgages edible berries and mushrooms. This lifestyle is directly influencing her art.

Ms Cerha has developed a symbiotic relationship with the seasons and her garden. Summertime she works in the garden, soaking up inspiration. Wintertime she works in her art studio, loading her impressions onto the canvases. This way of life directly contributes to Ms Cerha unique and personal mythology and iconography. The garden has landed Ms Cerha numerous awards and features in Swedish magazines.