(1929, Hradec Králové – 2008, Praha) Sculptor, woodcarver, painter, teacher, politician and writer. After completing his apprenticeship as a woodcarver, from 1946 to 1950 he studied at the Sculpture and Stonemasonry College in Hořice, and then at the Prague Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design (1950–1955), where he attended Josef Wagner’s studio. He was a member of the Trasa 54 (“Route 54”) group. In 1966 he won the international jury’s award at an exhibition in Slovenj Gradec (Yugoslavia), and in 1968 he was awarded the James Akston Prize at the 34th Venice Biennale. Preclík was an active holder of public offices. In the 1960s he organized the international sculptural symposiums in the town of Hořice. During the 1960s he became known for he wooden sculptures, in which he combined the old tradition of woodcarving with new trends in contemporary sculpture. However, unlike his peers, he did not use artificial materials or found objects at this time. He only began to incorporate these elements into his work in his later assemblages, which combined hand-carved wood and leather, furs or glass. Preclík’s work expresses social critique (as in the series Thrones). Less numerous are his stone sculptures. His first work in a public space was produced at a sculpture symposium held in Liberec in 1969. His later projects included an important contribution to the Stations of the Cross sculpture park in Kuks; however, he died before the park opened (2008), and his design was implemented post-mortem by the sculptor Zdeněk Hejl.