Silver one-ounce medal Olbram Zoubek proof numbered

Olbram Zoubek was born exactly 100 years ago. To mark the occasion, the Czech Mint is paying tribute to the renowned sculptor with silver commemorative medals.

The work of Olbram Zoubek ranks among the finest examples of Czech sculpture from the second half of the 20th century. His artistic style is characterized by figures that are significantly simplified, yet possess depth—emotional, symbolic, and existential. Although often massive and vertically elongated, his sculptures frequently convey an impression of fragility and movement—standing on tiptoes, reaching toward the heavens, or seemingly floating. They thus express the spiritual dimension and the inner tension of a person who longs for freedom… The artist found inspiration primarily in antiquity, which he combined with modern expression and artistic abstraction. The result is sculptures that appear as timeless symbols—bearers of values such as faith, courage, or dignity. Material diversity also played an important role in Olbram Zoubek’s work. In addition to bronze, he used materials such as cement, and the surfaces of his sculptures tend to be colorful, rough, and full of distinctive texture…

The commemorative medal is the work of academic sculptor Michal Vitanovský. Olbram Zoubek’s family, whom he knew personally as a fellow sculptor, specifically requested him for this work. “To create the portrait on the obverse, which corresponds to the younger and more active phase of Olbram Zoubek’s life, I used photographs from the Kmentová Zoubek Foundation’s archive. I chose those that capture an interesting momentary expression and were clearly not taken as formal portraits,” reveals the medal’s creator. The medalist then dedicated the reverse side to a work by Olbram Zoubek—specifically the 1973 sculpture Family, which was inspired by his relationship with the sculptor Eva Kmentová. It is interesting to note that Michal Vitanovský was captivated by the dynamic movements of the figures as they step out of their family environment into the surrounding world…

Each medal is numbered on the edge.