BE OPEN Art is pleased to announce Marie Boková as the August Regional Artist of the Month in the Central Europe stage of its 2026 global art competition. Running from May to August 2026, the regional stage brings together emerging artists representing the Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia.
Marie Boková is an artist studying Ceramics and Porcelain at UMPRUM in Prague. Her practice explores the relationship between human histories and the natural world through figurative ceramic sculpture, relief, and material-based processes. Combining ceramics with wood, wax, and organic matter, she examines how memory is preserved and transformed through materials, living organisms, and landscapes.
As the August Regional Artist of the Month, Marie Boková advances to the final selection for the title of Regional Winner of Central Europe, which will be announced at the conclusion of the regional stage. Previous monthly winners include Helena Miric (Croatia) in May, Lorena Iavorschi (Romania) in June, and Bogdana Peric Milenkovic (Serbia) in July.
The selected Regional Winner will receive a €500 cash prize and increased international visibility through the BE OPEN Art platform. Through the Regional Art competition, BE OPEN Art continues its mission to support emerging artists worldwide, fostering artistic innovation, cross-cultural dialogue, and the preservation of regional identities through contemporary art.