Beneš, Karel

Karel Beneš / Czech, born 1932

Beneš was born in the South-moravian village of Vlčnov. He witnessed the activities of occupying German forces during the war, and sheltered from bombing raids. He studied art in the 1950s, becoming an illustrator and lithographer. Encouraged by Emil Kotrba, Beneš began making exlibris, eventually creating more than 500 of them.

Beneš and his family experienced severe hardships under Nazis and Communists alike. Perhaps in response, he determined to make only art that is joyful. He lives in Prague with his artist-wife, Daniela Benešová.