Vojtěch Kubašta Collection, 1937-2013
Collection context
Summary
- Extent:
- 315 Items
- Language:
- English
Background
- Scope and content:
The Vojtěch Kubašta Collection includes more than 315 advertisements, calendars, flat books, maps, models, pop-up books and greeting cards, portfolios, postcards, posters, prints and stationery. Vojtěch Kubašta (1914-1992) was a Czech paper engineer, children's book illustrator, and graphic designer. The Bienes Museum acquired the materials from various sources, and the collection also includes books and other research materials related to Kubašta's career. Books and items from this collection are searchable in the Broward County Library Catalog with the prefix "POPUP KUBASTA".
- Biographical / historical:
Vojtěch Kubašta was born in Vienna, Austria on October 7, 1914, but grew up, lived, and worked in Prague, Czechoslovakia. In 1933 he enrolled in the architecture program at Czech Polytechnic University in Prague (České vysoké učení technické v Praze, ČVUT). During his time there, he was one of four members of a group of students who called themselves the Quadrifoliacs, who collectively worked on many architectural projects together, winning many prizes, and also worked commercially. He graduated in 1938 with a degree in architecture and engineering, and continued working with the Quadrifoliacs on projects including the design of the Hotel Sykovec.
In addition to his studies at the Polytechnic University and work with the Quadrifoliacs, Kubašta started teaching at the Rotter School of Graphic Design around 1937 and for a local plastics manufacturer, Blaklax designing household objects and advertising materials, transitioning from working as an architect to a graphic designer. He began working on book dust jackets, exlibris, and other illustrations, and also designed puppet stage sets and puppet costumes.
In 1941, Kubašta illustrated Joyful Stories for Children, written by Vlasta Burian, and Folk Tales of Africa, marking his turn towards another (and long-lasting) career in creating children's books. In the 1940s and early 1950s, he worked primarily with the publishers Aventium and Dolezal, but his illustrations appeared in many works printed by many presses. In 1953, he began illustrating for Artia, where between 1955 and 1965 he illustrated and paper engineered over 90 books. In the 1970s, he paper engineered and illustrated five movie-tie in books for Walt Disney, and also began authoring his own stories.
In addition to numerous commercial designs, it is estimated that he was responsible for creating over 300 books and that millions of copies in numerous languages have been published and distributed throughout the world. Despite the financial stability that his career brought him, Kubašta continued to work up until his death on July 7, 1992.
The Bienes Museum of the Modern Book (at the time known as the Bienes Center for the Literary Arts) began a pop-up book exhibition series in 2002, and as a result started actively collecting the works of Vojtěch Kubašta in 2003. In 2005, the Bienes held the third exhibition in the series, Pop-up, Illustrated Books, and Graphic Design of Czech Artist and Paper Engineer, Vojtěch Kubašta (1914-1992). It featured 159 items by Kubašta selected from private and public collections. Assistance to the exhibit was offered by Ellen G.K. Rubin who, amongst her massive pop-up book collection, held a comprehensive collection of Kubašta's books and artworks. Rubin also visited and interviewed Dagmar Kubaštova (Vojtěch Kubašta's daughter) in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada.
By 2012, the Bienes' collection of Kubašta items included more than 315 advertisements, calendars, flat books, maps, models, pop-up books and greeting cards, portfolios, postcards, posters, prints and stationery, which at the time was the largest public collection of his works in the United States.
- Processing information:
Access and use
- Location of this collection:
-
Bienes Museum of the Modern Book, Broward County Library100 S. Andrews AvenueFort LauderdaleFL33301USA
