S K U L L  studio is a Prague based studio founded in 2020 by photographer Bet Orten & sculptor Matěj Hájek is a laboratory of thoughts, notions, concepts and visions that are turned into matter by objects of any character. Sculptures, playgrounds, water elements, folly architecture or any other space interventions followed by strong images and videos are the bones of the skeleton on who’s top is a smiling S K U L L. Shake your bones!

Matěj Hájek graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague in 2010 (sculpture studio of J. Róna). He is one of the founding members of the Czech artistic and activist group Ztohoven. The activities of the group reach far beyond the local scope and it is therefore strongly established on the international arts scene. Matěj’s work encompasses a wide range of means of expression, from classical sculpting techniques to landscape fine art photography, extending to architectural disciplines. He is also the co-author of several land-art projects that earned him the Czech Architecture Grand Prix in 2012.

Bet Orten’s work oscillates between fashion photography, documentary, portrait and landscape art. Her photographs resemble poetic images or impressions from stories so familiar yet perhaps never written. Bet garnered her experience mostly abroad. She lived in New York where she worked as assistant in the team of the photographer Steven Klein. She graduated from London College of Fashion in the field of fashion photography.

Orten & Hájek combine unusual methods of expressions using both their backgrounds (photography & sculpture). Their work is characterized by unexpected combinations and an underlying symbolism in the chosen motifs. This fascinating mixture of disciplines is the essence and ingredients of all that’s being created in the „laboratories“ of  SKULL studio.