Originally from Košice, Slovakia, and now based in Switzerland, Libuša Němcová leads a life split between caregiving and creativity. Working abroad as a full-time home care aide, she manages long hours and emotional labor with grace—but it’s in the quiet in-between moments that her art comes to life. What started as simple sketches during childhood has slowly developed into a steady, self-taught art practice. Her story isn’t built on big breaks or fast success. It’s built on quiet persistence, curiosity, and a lifelong pull toward expression.
In July 2024, Libuša presented her first public sales exhibition at the newly opened Beautiful Art Gallery in Levoča. For her, the show wasn’t just a debut—it was a sign of arrival. It marked the shift from painting quietly at home to sharing her work with others. Several pieces are now part of the gallery’s permanent collection, a milestone she earned through patience and passion, not promotion.
These paintings were made during her off-hours—often in the stillness after work or late at night. They speak in soft tones and familiar forms. Recently, Libuša has been focusing on oil painting, a medium she’s still exploring. She studies online, tries new techniques, and lets the process unfold at its own pace. Her work isn’t flashy. It’s grounded in lived experience, observation, and affection for simple scenes.
One of her recent oil paintings, In the Mansion Garden, draws on older oil techniques but infuses them with personal sensibility. A wooden shed sits quietly at the center, surrounded by trees shifting gently in the wind. The grass below is thick, soft, dotted with flowers. The whole scene feels like a slow breath—a still moment frozen in time. There’s a sense of peace here, not because nothing is happening, but because everything feels in balance. You can almost hear the rustle of leaves or feel the weight of morning light. It’s less a composition than a memory made visible.
Libuša doesn’t force symbolism. She paints what feels real to her. Her work doesn’t aim to dazzle—it offers calm, familiarity, and subtle emotion. With In the Mansion Garden, the viewer is invited into a space that feels both specific and universal. It brings to mind the quiet mornings of childhood or visits to the countryside. The painting feels like a return.
Another piece, Winter Main Street, Košice, moves from nature to architecture but keeps the same reflective tone. This scene captures the center of her hometown wrapped in winter stillness. The Basilica of St. Elizabeth dominates the skyline, flanked by the modest Chapel of St. Michael. The old buildings along the street seem to hold their breath under the snow. But the scene isn’t cold or distant. It feels familiar, as if the city itself is remembering something.
In this work, light and shadow play gently across the stone and snow. There’s no drama, just a steady rhythm of lines and curves that make the city feel alive, even in the stillness of winter. Libuša’s version of Košice is more than a location—it’s a feeling. It’s history and memory, layered and preserved with care.
What stands out in Libuša’s paintings is her sense of patience. She’s not trying to reinvent the wheel. She’s trying to see clearly, to feel honestly, and to paint what matters to her. There’s a quiet rhythm in how she works—learning on her own, revisiting familiar scenes, letting her skill grow without rush.
Libuša’s story isn’t typical. She didn’t train in a studio or chase galleries. She found her way through small steps. Painting has been her companion through the years, a steady thread that runs alongside her work in caregiving and her life abroad. It gives her something of her own, something to build.
For those who wonder if it’s too late to make art, or if small beginnings can lead somewhere meaningful—Libuša’s path offers quiet encouragement. She didn’t wait for permission. She started with what she had. And with each canvas, she keeps going.
