Milan Knížák
Prof. Milan Knížák, Dr.A. (*1940), is one of the most renowned Czech artists. A prominent figure of the international avant-garde group Fluxus, he was appointed director of Fluxus East in 1965 by the group’s founder George Maciunas – the only member from the Eastern Bloc at that time. Knížák was the first to organize artistic events in Czechoslovakia and, at the age of just 26, was included in the most prestigious publication of the genre, Allan Kaprow: Assemblage, Environments & Happenings (published by Abrams, New York). Following this, he was labelled a political dissident by the Czechoslovak regime and became the subject of state surveillance and persecution.
Knížák is also the originator of so-called Broken Music – sound compositions created from destroyed and altered vinyl records. His multidisciplinary approach spans visual art, design, and fashion. He has collaborated with prestigious Italian design studios such as Alchimia in Milan, where he exhibited furniture and fashion pieces. His designs have been produced by internationally renowned brands including Zabro (Zanotta), Alessi, and Rossetti.
Since the 1960s, Knížák has explored architecture and fashion alongside his visual art. After 1990, he began publishing theoretical texts, essays, and cultural commentary, both in newspapers and in book form. From 1990 to 1997, he served as rector and professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague, where he led the Intermedia Art Studio. He later played a major role in shaping the direction of the National Gallery in Prague, where he served as managing director for 12 years.
Throughout his career, Knížák has received numerous awards, including the Grand Prix at the 5th International Drawing Triennale in Wrocław (1992), the First-Class Medal for Pedagogical Work from the Czech Ministry of Education (1997), the ARTeon Award for Lifetime Achievement (Poznań, 2002), the Universitas Masarykiana Foundation Award (Brno, 2006), and the First-Class Medal of Merit from the President of the Czech Republic for contributions to culture and the arts (2010). His work can be found in numerous public and private collections across the globe, and he has showcased his art in more than 100 solo and several hundred group exhibitions.
