Meet Season 43 Visual Artist Zdenka Bleile

Music at Kohl’s 2025-26 Season opens with two extraordinary musical ensembles from Prague, Czech Republic: the Bennewitz Quartet in October and the Trio Bohémo in November. Works by Czech composers will distinguish fully half of our season. It seemed natural, therefore, that we sought out a visual artist representing the rich Czech culture as our 2025-26 Season Visual Artist. Meet San Carlos, California-based Zdenka Bleile, whose paintings are imbued with the flavors and colors of her native Prague and often inspired by music and musical themes.

Artist’s Statement:

Born in Prague, Czech Republic—a vibrant cultural hub of Central Europe—art has been a big part of my life from an early age. My artistic journey began with childhood art classes and formal studies at Charles University in Prague before relocating to California, where I earned a degree in graphic design.

Though my professional path led me through graphic design, my passion for fine arts remained unwavering. For years, I expressed myself through impressionist painting, capturing light and atmosphere. However, a profound artistic transformation occurred several years ago when I discovered oil and cold wax technique.

This discovery opened up for me new realms of creative expression, allowing me to explore abstract realism and purely abstract compositions. Working with oil and cold wax has enabled a deeper, more personal level of artistic communication. The interactive and emotional nature of abstract art—with its inherent spontaneity—has allowed me to focus on the substance of the creative process. That brought a profound change to my interaction—I call it conversation—with each painting.

My work now centers on the interplay of emotion, color, and shape as fundamental elements of expression. Through my abstract and semi-abstract compositions, I invite viewers into a more intimate dialogue with both the artwork and their own emotional responses—creating a bridge between my inner world and theirs.

I am a member of several art groups and the Art Bias community in San Carlos. My paintings are displayed in private collections in the United States and Europe. My work has been featured in solo and group exhibitions.

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Our cover art:
Sound of Brass
Oil and cold wax
16”x 20”
This abstract painting captures a French horn through dynamic, sweeping brush strokes that echo the instrument’s curved, coiled form. The dominant palette of fiery oranges, deep blacks, and bright whites reflects the warm, brassy timbre of the horn.

The energetic, layered brushwork creates a sense of movement and vibration, as if visualizing sound waves in motion. Thick, gestural paint application adds tactile quality, suggesting both the physical effort of playing and the gleam of polished brass. The fragmented, overlapping forms present multiple perspectives simultaneously, successfully translating the horn’s distinctive musical voice into visual language.

Website: ZdenkasArt.com ~ Instagram:@zdenika