Albin Polasek

Albin Polasek, N.A., (1879-1965). Czech-American sculptor. Polasek was born at Frenstat in Moravia, the Czech Republic in 1879 and immigrated to the United States in 1901. In 1906 he studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts under the instruction of Charles Grafly and won the Cresson Traveling Scholarship in 1907, 1908, and 1909. Albin was a Fellow at the American Academy in Rome from 1910 to 1913 and, subsequent to his studies in Rome and Greece, he started his own studio in New York City. In 1916 he went to Chicago, where he was head of the Department of Sculpture at the Art Institute until 1943. He later moved to Florida, settling in Winter Park. After his death his home and studio in Winter Park were turned into a museum. Visit their web site at www.polasek.org