Terezas work is influenced by observation of nature and its harmonious patterns, as well as the atmosphere and mystery of its colours and light. Her work seeks to capture these qualities and give them form within a digital framework, while preserving the qualities of craft.
Tereza believes in the meaning behind the outward form, which should be the reason for expression, rather than the other way round. That is why she not only works in illustration, but also with photography, film, animation and writing. Her work is concerned with perception and ways of heightening it (particularly the tactile), in order to offer a fresh and poetic vision of the world.
Terezas main influences in terms of visual aesthetics are the works of such artists as Marc Chagall, Jiri Trnka, Joseph Cornell and Jan Svankmajer. In terms of ideas she is inspired by the theories of C G Jung and David Bohm, the teachings of G I Gurdijeff, Ouspensky and Maurice Nicoll, as well as by Hermann Hesse, Hans Christian Andersen and various fairy tales and fables.
Tereza Stehlíková is a graduate of the Royal College of Art (MA Animation) and works as an artist, writer, filmmaker and an Associate Lecturer in animation at the University of Westminster. She also has an MPhil/PhD place at the Royal College of Art, London, researching the sense of touch and its relationship to film.
Currently Tereza is also leading animation workshops, entitled Moving Picture Club, for 4-5 year olds, as part of the after school activities in Malorees Infant School, Brondesbury park, North West London.
Terezas childrens book The Story of Violet, both written and illustrated by her, was published by Go Together Press in November 2007. Her short stories, reviews and illustrations have been published in Vertigo Magazine (www.vertigomagazine.co.uk), to which Tereza contributes as a regular writer and illustrator, FO A RM (New York) and ARC and her illustration work includes CD covers, book illustrations and design work for the Olympic Games in Athens (2004). She has had a solo exhibition The Spirit of Trees of 2d work in Prague in 2001.
Tereza Stehlikovas films have been shown in various international film festivals and her short documentary on the life of Czech and Slovak au-pairs for the BBC series Untold London screened on BBC1 in October 2005. Her music video for the group Lorainne (Rec 90, Norway) was shown on Swedish television. Other moving image work includes a collaboration with Jon Wozencroft for the exhibition Golden Well, a video installation in Silo space, Porto; while The Flight of Bazelon was chosen for inclusion in the magazines Shots (+DVD), ZOO (+DVD), and Creative Review (+DVD).
Education
2008 ongoing Royal College of Art (Mphil/PhD)
1999-2001 Royal College of Art (MA Animation)
1998 London Animation School (postgraduate training course in softimage 3D + drawn animation)
1995-1998 Central Saint Martins School of Art&Design (BA Graphic Design & Illustration)
1994-1995 Central Saint Martins School of Art&Design (Foundation course)
Born in Prague, Tereza lives and works in London.