Zdeněk Němeček
16th November 1931 – 18th December 1989
1931
Zdeněk Němeček was born in Luže near Chrudim into an agricultural family
1946
He starts his ceramic apprenticeship at a vocational school in Kadaň, completes his professional training in porcelain at Klášterec nad Ohří, and decides to become a sculptor
1948
Joins the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
1949
Continues his ceramic studies at the Secondary School of Applied Arts in Zlín, later relocated to Uherské Hradiště
1952
Marries the artist and illustrator Kornelie Zajoncová
1953
Begins studying at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague under professors Jan Lauda and Vincenc Makovský
1957
Birth of his daughter Zuzana
1959
Completes his studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague and moves to a studio on Libeň Island in Prague, which was slated for demolition in the following years due to planned, but unrealized, Olympic Games in Prague
1963
Holds his first solo exhibition and welcomes the birth of his son Jan
1965
Begins a series of joint exhibitions with Kornelie Němečková
1970
Completes his first sports sculpture installation in a foreign public space Goalkeeper - Aztec Stadium in Mexico City
1981
Death of his daughter Zuzana
1989
Zdeněk Němeček tragically takes his own life after prolonged mental health struggles
2003
Zdeněk Němeček's work reappears for the first time since 1989 at an exhibition focused on sports (Sport in Czech Art of the 20th Century, Municipal House, Prague)
2016
Filmmaker Michaela Režová begins to take an interest in the life and work of Zdeněk Němeček
2018
Michaela Režová initiates the development of an animated documentary as part of her doctoral studies at UMPRUM
2023
The Czech Olympic Committee initiates release of the monograph Sculptor of Movement Zdeněk Němeček which is published by Euromedia Group, a. s.
2024
Sculptures by the artist appear in the Czech Republic simultaneously at three exhibitions in one year, including a monographic exhibition The Art of Movement at UM Gallery
