About
Born in 1952, Josef Blecha graduated from the University of Economics, Prague. Drawing since 1976, his portrait caricatures have appeared in a number of publications, including The New York Times, The New York Times Book Review, The New Yorker, and Playboy. He has held over 50 solo exhibitions. Josef Blecha transformed the line into an elegant means of depicting resemblances. While drawing, he tries to enter into the mindset of his subjects, enabling him to portray them in a broader context of their time. His work is distinguishable for its immaculate technique and ability to create a strong sense of atmosphere. His exquisite line, combined with the increasing use of collage, creates a unique artistic license among his contemporaries. The legacy of Czech caricaturists, such as František Bidlo, Antonín Pelc, and Adolf Hoffmeister, has found a formidable follower in Josef Blecha. His work explores new artistic dimensions, as well as a very specific art form, and is held in private collections throughout Europe, the United States, and Canada. Josef Blecha is a member of S.V.U. Mánes.
Collections
Each of the 51 rooms and suites at the Aria Hotel in Prague is dedicated to a specific style of music, artist or composer and features the work of Josef Blecha. His portraits of music legends appear throughout the hotel’s public areas and on its sgraffito façade.
Each of the four wings at the Aria Hotel in Budapest is dedicated to one of four major music genres. The hotel’s 49 rooms and suites feature caricatures by Josef Blecha to commemorate famous composers and artists such as Maria Callas, Count Basie, Bob Dylan or Ferenc Liszt.
The Leica Gallery in Prague focuses on exhibiting the work of renowned photographers, as well as supporting contemporary Czech and Slovak photography. Six portraits of photographic icons by Josef Blecha are a permanent feature of its interior.
Publications
Caricatures - Famous Faces in a Few Strokes
This monograph comprises a selection of 222 portraits of famous faces from the realms of literature, music, art, theatre, film architecture and politics. It features nearly forty years of work, from early sketches for music periodicals to the Aria Hotel collection. Short-listed for the Most Beautiful Czech Book of the Year in 2007, it was published in Czech, English and German editions.
ISBN: 978-80-86660-13-4
Publisher: Knihy 555
Exhibitions
Solo
2019
Art & Space Gallery, Munich, Germany
Café Music, Rakovník, Czech Republic
Lašské museum, Kopřivnice, Czech Republic
Tylův dům, Polička, Czech Republic
2018
Café Jericho, Prague, Czech Republic
Galerie La Femme, Prague, Czech Republic
Galerie Reistna, Valtice, Czech Republic
Lašské muzeum, Kopřivnice, Czech Republic
Spolkový dům, Kutná Hora, Czech Republic
Zámek, Litomyšl, Czech Republic
2016
Kulturhaus Niederanven, Niederanven, Luxembourg
Spolkový dům, Kutná Hora, Czech Republic
2015
Galerie La Femme, Prague, Czech Republic
Galerie Magdalena, Jindřichův Hradec, Czech Republic
Městské muzeum, Frýdlant, Czech Republic
Zámek, Jindřichův Hradec, Czech Republic
2014
Centar za kultura Aco Šopov, Štip, Macedonia
Centar za kultura Grigor Prlicev, Ohrid, Macedonia
Galeria Çifte Hamam, Tetovo, Macedonia
Kulturno Informativen Centar, Skopje, Macedonia
2012
Bílkova 13, Prague, Czech Republic
Galerie La Femme, Prague, Czech Republic
Suterén, Prague, Czech Republic
2011
Divadlo Bolka Polívky, Brno, Czech Republic
M’Art Print Gallery, Veľké Zálužie, Slovakia
Pitomá kavárna, Prague, Czech Republic
2009
Galerie Cafe, Loket, Czech Republic
Istituto Culturale Ceco, Rome, Italy
Severočeské divadlo opery a baletu, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
Suterén, Prague, Czech Republic
2008
Galerie Anderle, Prague, Czech Republic
2007
Galerie ve věži, Planá u Mariánských Lázní, Czech Republic
Kultúrné centrum, Pezinok, Slovakia
Patriot-X, Prague, Czech Republic
2006
Galerie Bazilika, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
Výstavní síň Radnice, Frýdlant, Czech Republic
2005
Galerie V, Poděbrady, Czech Republic
2004
Kulturní klub c.k. Solnice, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
Malá galerie České spořitelny, Kladno, Czech Republic
Malá galerie VÚVeL, Brno, Czech Republic
2003
Galerie českého krasu Špejchar, Želkovice, Czech Republic
Městské muzeum, Hořice, Czech Republic
2002
Galerie Krause, Pfäffikon, Switzerland
Galerie Špejchar, Chomutov, Czech Republic
Galerie V, Poděbrady, Czech Republic
Muzeum T.G.M., Rakovník, Czech Republic
1999
Galerie M, Vrchlabí, Czech Republic
1998
Golem Club, Prague, Czech Republic
1997
Galéria T, Komárno, Slovakia
La Creperie, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
1996
Galerie Lazarská, Prague, Czech Republic
Knihkupectví Růžička, Prague, Czech Republic
1992
Jazztone, Lörrach, Germany
1990
Crashing Thunder Studio Gallery, Gallup, NM, USA
Zámek, Staré Hrady, Czechoslovakia
1987
Galerie plastik, Hořice, Czechoslovakia
1986
Malostranská beseda, Prague, Czechoslovakia
1985
Galerie 55, Kladno, Czechoslovakia
Malá galerie spořitelny, Kladno, Czechoslovakia
1984
Hotel Thermal, Karlovy Vary, Czechoslovakia
Malá galerie spořitelny, Kladno, Czechoslovakia
1979
Malostranská beseda, Prague, Czechoslovakia
1978
Malá galerie spořitelny, Kladno, Czechoslovakia
Group
2019
Galerie La Femme, Prague, Czech Republic
2018
Galerie Špejchar, Chomutov, Czech Republic
Karikaturmuseum, Krems, Austria
2017
Galerie Diamant, Prague, Czech Republic
Galerie La Femme, Prague, Czech Republic
Galerie výtvarného umění, Havlíčkův Brod, Czech Republic
2016
Galerie Diamant, Prague, Czech Republic
2015
Galerie La Femme, Prague, Czech Republic
2014
Art galéria, Prievidza, Slovakia
Beroun Golf Resort, Beroun, Czech Republic
Centre tchèque, Paris, France
Cseh Centrum, Budapest, Hungary
Galerie La Femme, Prague, Czech Republic
Galerie La Femme, Horka u Staré Paky, Czech Republic
Galerie Orlovna, Kroměříž, Czech Republic
Galerie u foťáka, Jistebník, Czech Republic
Kernstok Károly Művészeti Alapítvány, Tatabánya, Hungary
Prague House, Brussels, Belgium
Staroměstská radnice, Prague, Czech Republic
Zámek, Holešov, Czech Republic
2012
Chvalský zámek, Prague, Czech Republic
2011
Clam-Gallasův palác, Prague, Czech Republic
Galerie La Femme, Prague, Czech Republic
Zámek, Holešov, Czech Republic
2010
Galéria Slovenskej výtvarnej únie, Bratislava, Slovakia
2009
Galerie Diamant, Prague, Czech Republic
Wines Home, Prague, Czech Republic
Zámek, Dobříš, Czech Republic
2007
Galerie La Femme, Ostrava, Czech Republic
Galerie La Femme, Prague, Czech Republic
Národní dům na Vinohradech, Prague, Czech Republic
2006
Městské divadlo, Jablonec nad Nisou, Czech Republic
Městské divadlo, Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic
Divadlo Oskara Nedbala, Tábor, Czech Republic
2005
Galerie Inspirace, Jindřichův Hradec, Czech Republic
M&K Galerie, Jindřichův Hradec, Czech Republic
Prezentační klub Kaučuk, Kralupy nad Vltavou, Czech Republic
2004
Galerie Koruna, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
2002
Výstavní síň Mánes, Prague, Czech Republic
2003
Galerie českého krasu Špejchar, Želkovice, Czech Republic
Městské muzeum, Hořice, Czech Republic
1997
Galerie Miro, Prague, Czech Republic
1983
Galerie Fronta, Prague, Czech Republic