The monumental relief entitled Golden Thread was created by artist Elena Bellušová. In 1970, she won an anonymous nationwide competition for an art installation to decorate the study room of the then Matica slovenská. More than 80 artists were interested in taking part. A total of 28 designs were submitted, which was an unusually high number for the time. Elena Bellušová’s work impressed the jury with its simplicity and symbolism. The entire relief is a deep reflection on history. The author described the idea of the winning relief for the third building of the Matica slovenská as follows: “I set out, in line with the conditions of the competition, to portray the mission of the Matica slovenská as a national institution. It reminded me of a tree growing and spreading, and the golden thread on the relief connects it with Slovaks at home and in the world.” 

The low relief forms a strip above window-level which is 3 meters wide and 30 meters long. It is made of artificial stone and crushed Carrara marble. The line of thread is made from slices of real gold. The work is dominated by sparse colours with a warm pale grey tinge and a highlighted curve in gold. The relief completes the positive atmosphere of a large, well-lit and airy study room. 

Elena Bellušová (married name Haberernová) was born on 8 August 1908 in Banská Bystrica (present-day Slovakia). She was the sister of eminent Slovak architect and university professor Emil Belluš. In 1939 she began to attend the newly established drawing and painting department at the Slovak Technical University in Bratislava under the guidance of outstanding teachers such as M. Benka, J. Mudroch, J. Kostka, and others. She graduated in 1944. Four years later, she was admitted to the Academia di belle arti liceo artistico in Rome to study under the portraitist Philippe de Pisis. Initially, Elena Bellušová produced mainly portraits. She won several art prizes for her works in this period. Later, she focused on monumental works. She belonged to a generation of artists who achieved significant development in fine art in Slovakia. She died on 14 November 1998 in Bratislava.