Lot 140

Jiří Seifert (1932 - 1999) BIRDSTONE

Jiří Seifert is one of the most important Czech sculptors of the latter half of the 20th century. Due to his political opinions, however, he remained on the fringes of the Czech art scene after 1968. In 1952–58 he studied in Professor Bedřich Stefan's studio at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design. After graduating he moved to Liberec, where he worked until 1970 and created the foundation stone for Ještěd tower. In 1965 he participated in the Biennale des Jeunes de Paris, where he received an award, and in 1968 he was included in a contemporary Czechoslovak sculpture show at Musée Rodin in Paris. After moving to Liberec, he created important works in 1969: a Plague Column and the monumental Bell for Jan Palach in St. Margrethen. Due to his political opinions, it was made impossible for him to exhibit or even participate in international sculpture symposia to which he was repeatedly invited. In the early 1990s Seifert started to actively exhibit again and participate in local and international symposia. His oeuvre is represented in many private collections and in all Czech state galleries; outside of the Czech Republic his work can be found at the British Museum as well as other museums. Museum Kampa hosted a large retrospective exhibition of his work in 2019.