This year marks the 50th anniversary of the very first Beauty of Irises exhibition held in the Botanical Garden and Arboretum of Mendel University in Brno. To celebrate this special occasion, we are dedicating extra attention to preparing the anniversary exhibition, which will take place from May 16 to May 25, 2025.

We warmly invite you not only to enjoy the blooming garden, but also to visit a thematic indoor exhibition. Its authors, Barbara Ševčíková and Anna Magni from the Department of Garden and Landscape Architecture at the Faculty of Horticulture, Mendel University in Brno, build upon the work of Professor Ivar Otruba, who was the sole author of the exhibition until his passing in 2022. This year’s installation reinterprets his creative principles, while keeping the celebration of irises — the genus Iris, a plant that has fascinated and accompanied humans since antiquity — at its core.

The exhibition will also showcase a circle of artists who collaborated with Professor Otruba, including sculptor Pavel Kostrhun and painters Vojtěch Štolfa and Josef Kadula, whose original works will be on display.

For the first time, we are preparing a children’s corner — a space for exploration or drawing for kids and adults alike. On Saturday, May 24, 2025, a special accompanying program will be held under the patronage of the Brno House of Arts: a creative workshop Iris in Visual Art.

Did you know that iris flowers were used to produce dye in the Middle Ages? Don’t hesitate to book your spot by emailing edukace@dum-umeni.cz. We look forward to seeing you!

(Department of Garden and Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Horticulture, Mendel University in Brno; Botanical Garden and Arboretum, Mendel University in Brno)