Kája Saudek, the acclaimed Czech illustrator known as the “King of Czech Comics”, passed away earlier today at the age of 80. He had been in a coma for nine years following an accident in 2006.
Last month, Saudek’s wife Johana spoke about her husband’s condition in the Czech press.
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The twin brother of prominent photographer Jan Saudek, Kája was one on the country’s most famed illustrators, and a leading force in the evolution of the Czech comic book scene.
He did artwork for comic books, movie posters, and other media, and he contributed to the design of the Czech films Who Wants to Kill Jessie? and Four Murders Are Enough, Darling, among others.
His work can be seen in Prague at Batalion’s permanent exhibition, the Kája Saudek Comics Museum.
This summer, two other galleries are exhibiting special selections from the artist’s oeuvre.
Art Salon S at Prague’s Dancing House is currently housing Kája Saudek 18+, a collection of some of the illustrator’s racier pieces.
The exhibition features artwork surrounding the themes of eroticism and pornography, and includes many works that never been published. You can see 18+ through September 17.
Also, Old Town Square’s Galerie GOAP currently houses the exhibition Saudek & Saudek 80, a retrospective of both Kája and his brother Jan. The exhibition runs until next January.