Jan Saudek 90

On the occasion of Jan Saudek's 90th birthday, the Central Gallery has prepared a special retrospective exhibition with the telling title "Jan Saudek 90."

Saudek 90. The famous photographer celebrates his anniversary with a retrospective exhibition On the occasion of Jan Saudek's 90th birthday, the Central Gallery in Prague has prepared an extraordinary retrospective exhibition with the telling title "Jan Saudek 90". The exhibition pays tribute to one of the most significant and prominent figures in Czech culture of the second half of the 20th century and presents a comprehensive overview of the artist's work – from early black-and-white photographs to famous colorized images with artistic depth, as well as lesser-known photographs from the author's archive. "A few months ago, I wished to live to see spring. I made it. I try to remember all those moments I captured – and suddenly I have my whole life before my eyes. I often say that photography is a deception, but I once believed in it. I believed in the power of it to be timeless. The people in the photographs no longer age; they remain with us. We can reminisce. And we can also invest our own story into each one, because somewhere behind the flat photo paper, there can be much more than meets the eye at first glance. Allow yourself to experience this. In both black and white and color. I am already an old man, and one thing I know for sure. Life is beautiful!" invites the most famous Czech photographer to his exhibition at the Central Gallery for his 90th birthday, which he celebrated on May 13. Iconic works and lesser-known early creations Jan Saudek is an icon of Czech photography, but also a prominent figure in European art. Despite social oppression, he remained true to his vision and gradually built his own, free world. His work, often provocative, emotional, and visually strong, transcends the boundaries of classical portraiture, with his most common themes being women, the female body, and the relationship between men and women. In Saudek's photographs, raw reality meets poetic fiction, erotica meets nostalgia, beauty meets decadence, but above all, there is a strong interest in the human story, body, and soul. The exhibition at the Central Gallery in Old Town Square is open to visitors from May 16, 2025, to February 12, 2026, and features approximately 170 photographs. Iconic works such as The Window of My Studio, Lovers, or Life, as well as lesser-known early works that may surprise with their delicacy, as Saudek was exploring themes of childhood and family at that time. The exhibition will also include a supporting program, which will be gradually announced on the gallery's website.