Josef Gebr Exhibition – From Písek to Hollywood

The exhibition "From Písek to Hollywood" at Galerie Dragoun in Písek commemorates artist and set designer Jaroslav "Jerry" Gebr on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his birth (May 26, 1926). Gebr was born in Lužnice near Třeboň and moved to Písek with his parents in 1936, where he studied at the School of Decorative Arts in Zlín and later at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague. After the communist takeover, he emigrated illegally on February 25, 1949, crossing the Iron Curtain through Železná Ruda into Bavaria, and eventually reached Los Angeles via England and Colombia.

In Hollywood, Gebr worked in the set design department of Universal Studios, painting film backgrounds, posters, and murals—including a reproduction of the Sistine Chapel and depictions of the White House and Pentagon—all created by hand with a brush, before the digital era. He created dozens of portraits for film productions and private commissions, including work for Barbra Streisand, Orson Welles, Alfred Hitchcock, Lucille Ball, and Lou Wasserman. He collaborated with renowned directors such as Steven Spielberg and Clint Eastwood. His work appeared in iconic films such as "The Sting", "Night Gallery", and "The Hook". In 1977, he donated three paintings to President Gerald Ford. Gebr died in Los Angeles in February 2013 with the wish to be buried in Písek. The exhibition is curated by Irena Mašíková Konštantová, and the opening was attended by the GEBR ART gallery team who flew in from the USA. The exhibition runs from March 28 to May 16, 2026. Admission: 100 CZK.