Photo Fred Kramer: A Retrospective Exhibition of Innovative Czech Advertising Photography

This exhibition is the first retrospective of Fred Kramer (1913–1994), a highly accomplished Czech advertising photographer active from the 1950s to the 1980s. It showcases his studio photography, which blended avant-garde art with commercial strategies, particularly focusing on his work from the 1960s, including color photography and collaborations with graphic artists.

The first retrospective exhibition dedicated to Fred Kramer (1913–1994), widely regarded as the most accomplished Czech advertising photographer of the 1950s–1980s. The exhibition draws from an extensive collection of his works, donated by his wife to the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague. Kramer, a graduate of the State School of Graphic Arts, initially pursued social documentary photography before excelling in studio work after his internment in concentration camps during WWII. His style uniquely combined the legacy of avant-garde art with effective commercial strategies. Throughout the 1950s and beyond, he collaborated with major foreign trade companies like Skloexport and Centrotex, as well as the domestic House of Fashion. From 1967 until the early nineties, Kramer was a freelance teacher at FAMU, mentoring many future professional photographers. The exhibition places a significant focus on his photographic output from the 1960s, a period when he was among the few photographers working with color and collaborating with prominent graphic artists. His iconic advertising photograph, 'Madonna of Košíře,' gained renewed recognition in the 1980s when it was adopted as the logo for the underground cultural magazine Revolver Revue. This comprehensive retrospective aims to significantly enhance public awareness of Kramer's diverse and impactful oeuvre.

Admission is CZK 150 for full price and CZK 80 for concession. Tickets can be purchased online via the provided link.