Miroslav Tichý

Miroslav Tichý was a Czech photographer known for his unconventional approach and unique style of photography. 

Tichý studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague but was expelled in 1948 for political reasons. He continued to work as an artist, creating drawings, paintings, and photographs, but his work remained largely unknown until the 1990s.

Tichý's photographs were made using homemade cameras and lenses and were often taken surreptitiously, capturing images of women in public places like parks and beaches. His work was marked by its rough, grainy texture and unconventional composition, and it reflected his interest in the aesthetics of decay and imperfection.

Despite his unconventional approach, Tichý gained recognition in the international art world in the 2000s, with solo exhibitions in museums and galleries around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.

Tichý's work has been celebrated for its rawness and honesty, and for its unique contribution to the history of photography. He died on April 12, 2011, in Kyjov, at the age of 84. Today, his photographs are held in many important collections, and he remains one of the most important and influential photographers of his generation.