Pavel Stecha

Pavel Stecha was born in Prague in 1944.

One of the best-known Czech photographers of the late twentieth century, he was founder of the Department of Photography at the University of Applied Arts in Prague, a member of the Prague House of Photography, and Head of Department of Photography at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague. He received a Fulbright scholarship in 1990. His work was featured at FotoFest 1990.

Mr. Stecha was well known for his documentary work on Czech life and social conditions in the 1960s and 1970s, when such work was not officially accepted. In the late 1980s, he was close to many Czech dissidents, in particular Vaclav Havel. Mr. Stecha's works on the 'Velvet Revolution' in Czechoslovakia and Mr. Havel's rise to the Presidency of Czechoslovakia are legendary. President Havel chose Mr. Stecha as his official photographer during the early years of his Presidency in the 1990s.

In addition to his documentary work, Mr. Stecha was well known for his architectural work on the great buildings of Prague. This work was featured in many books, among them Josip Pleènik, an architect of Prague Castle (SPH, 1997), Müllerova Vila [Villa Muller] (ARGO, 2000), Prague in Your Pocket (Michelin, 1996), Villa Müller (Princeton Architectural Press, 1994), Prague, Hidden Splendors (Norma, 1994), Prazske Mesto Zidovske [Prague Jewish Town] (Aventinum, 1992), Domovni Znameni Stare Prahy [House Signs in Old Prague] (Panorama, 1986).

Mr. Stecha's photographs have been widely exhibited internationally, including Finland, Sweden, Turkey, Israel, Germany and the U.S. His work has been published in Stern, Life, Connoisseur, DOMUS, Casabella, Double Page and Creative Camera. He died in Prague in 2004, well-known as a photographer, teacher of photography, and mentor to many young artists.