František Kollman lived a life as vibrant as the art he created. Here stands a memorial to František Kollman. He was born in 1947 and passed away in 2023. Kollman excelled in judo. He held seven national titles. Kollman’s life was filled with diverse achievements.
František Kollman’s artistic journey began at the Václav Hollar Art School. He furthered his studies with Zdeněk Burian. Jan Bauch also influenced him. Kollman’s family history is quite interesting. He was born to Marie Karl Von Stradioti. His father, Václav František Kollman was the son of a German painter.
Interestingly his father steered him towards martial arts. This was a departure from the family’s artistic tradition. From a young age, František showed artistic talent. He grew up surrounded by famous painters. Jan Zrzavý, Rudolf Lexa, Josef Škoda and Jan Syrový were close family friends.
Kollman mastered several martial arts. He earned numerous awards. In November 1989, he led the Civic Forum’s volunteer guard. He even became Václav Havel’s bodyguard. Later František Kollman became head of the government security. Subsequently, he oversaw training for the Czech police.
František Kollman achieved a 6th dan in judo. In 2001, he received an 8th dan in ju-jitsu. He was also a respected painter and glass artist. Kollman’s art has been exhibited in the Czech Republic and abroad. You can find his works in galleries in France and Spain. Also his paintings are present in Germany and Austria.
His paintings often depict battle scenes. These scenes are set during the Thirty Years’ War. Kollman also created frescoes and large canvases. One such canvas is “Czech Estates in France”. It measures three by five meters. Kollman had a distinct style. Movement is a key element in his paintings. He often portrayed knightly skirmishes. Also, he liked painting rearing horses and naval battles.
František Kollman was an unrestrained individual. He was an exhibitionist who painted with both hands. His technique was seemingly chaotic. Yet it was distinctly Kollman’s. He mixed cigarette ash and coal with paint. Sometimes he used beer, coffee, or tea. The additions depended on the location and his creative mood. František Kollman clearly left his mark.