Surrealism, color, humor—these words readily encapsulate the eclectic artistic production of art director and photographer Eliška Sky. Born in the Czech Republic and now based in London, the contemporary artist focuses on themes like body positivity, diversity in beauty, and sustainability, elaborating on them through joy, movement, and imagination.
“When I started with photography, I was experimenting with various styles and techniques, but the use of vivid colors came quite naturally. Even in my early works, I used lots of repetition and color blocking, which can be seen in my style now. I also always loved to involve people, specifically dancers, as they know how to move their bodies and create unique body shapes and forms.”
Creating colorful dreamscapes of futuristic beauty through photography and film
Growing up with a strong interest in the arts, Eliška Sky got a camera at the age of 18 and decided to pursue a career in visual arts and photography. After finishing her BA in Photography in the Czech Republic, Sky continued her studies in London with an MA in Fashion Photography at the UAL – London College of Fashion. There, Sky worked on campaigns for young designers and gained experience in filming and directing. During the early start of her artistic career, the photographer experimented with various styles and techniques. The use of vivid colors came quite naturally to her.
As an emerging contemporary artist, Sky is known for harnessing visual storytelling and the power of the elements from her early works: repetition, color blocking, and fluid forms. The photographer skillfully employs these elements to create art pieces celebrating beauty, hope, and interconnectedness while pushing for positive change.
The inspiration for Sky’s work varies: “I’m always mesmerised by the creativity & humour of Olaf Breuning with his installations, sketches and photographs. Another favourite photographer is Tim Walker with his imagination and collaborations with the set designer Shona Heath. When I first discovered the works of Viviane Sassen, I couldn’t believe how uniquely she can work with light and shadow. The photographer told TITLE.
“One of my favorite artists is also Henri Matisse with his cut-outs. That’s why I’m currently working on an ongoing project, ‘Vive Matisse!’ where I revive some of his iconic works but with my female gaze. From movies, I can name ‘Her’, ‘The Truman Show’, ‘Inception’, ‘Kolja’, and the burning scene from ‘Shutter Island’.”
The artist’s interest in science fiction, technology, and sustainability merged in the ‘World 2.0’ project. Sky employed a futuristic, neon-filled, intricate aesthetic reminiscent of the kind that defined the cyberpunk genre through works like the ‘Ghost in the Shell’ universe, ‘The Matrix’ quadrilogy, and the video game ‘Cyberpunk 2077’. The project ponders transhumanist yet naturalistic portraits over the future role of Artificial Intelligence, while advocating for an ethical use of AI, in line with humanity’s need to pursue climate change mitigation and adaptation for a sustainable future.
A peek behind the curtain – Eliška Sky’s artistic process
For her art pieces, Sky starts from a specific idea. Some are inspired by everyday occurrences, others by art pieces that help her process an emotion or personal experience. “For commercial projects, I’m responding to the client’s brief and analyzing the brand/subject. I then start to gather some more information contextually and do visual research”. The Czech artist then works on a PDF mood board, which is divided into sections focused on the overall mood, the poses, the lighting, and the styling. “With this PDF, I’m contacting brands, magazines, and the team. I also work on sketches and individual ideas, as I believe that you create stronger outcomes if you are prepared and have some good ideas in hand”.
From a practical standpoint, the project execution varies greatly. Some involve a lot of set designing and require plenty of planning, while others are more straightforward: “I definitely tend to overcomplicate things with some wild ideas. But as my motto says, you have to dream big! I enjoy challenges and I get involved in production, choosing the right team and sometimes even building the set design myself”.
