Helena Wilsonová (née Pospíšilová; 15 August 1937 – 14 August 2019) was a Czech photographer.

Helena Wilsonová
Wilsonová in 2014
Born
Helena Pospíšilová

(1937-08-15)15 August 1937
Died14 August 2019(2019-08-14) (aged 81)
Toronto, Canada
SpousePaul Wilson
ChildrenJake Wilson

BIography edit

Pospíšilová was born in the village of Návarov. After her family estate was confiscated by the state in 1948 (see 1948 Czechoslovak coup d'état), they moved to Prague,[1] where she worked for the Academy of Sciences and also published her works in the Umění a řemesla magazine. In 1972, she married Canadian translator Paul Wilson. When Wilson was expelled from Czechoslovakia in 1977, they moved to Canada together.[2]

She continued working as a photographer for art magazines, galleries and catalogues.[3] One of her best-known works is a cycle of photographs taken in Cuba in 1995, later exhibited under the title The Faces of Havana.[4] In 2011, a major exhibition of her photographs took place in Prague's Libri Prohibiti.[5]

She died in Toronto a day before her 82nd birthday.

References edit

  1. ^ Chmel Denčevová, Ivana (23 July 2022). "Fotila normalizační underground i severoamerické indiány. Osudové ženy: Helena Wilsonová" (in Czech). Czech Radio. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  2. ^ Candra, Robert (16 October 2009). "Helena Wilsonová: Fotografie" (in Czech). Czech Radio. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  3. ^ Slavíková, Duňa (19 August 2019). "Za Helenou Wilsonovou (15. 8. 1937 – 14. 8. 2019)". Revolver Revue (in Czech). Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  4. ^ Maštalíř, Linda (21 April 2006). "Helena Wilsonova's lens: Cuba, the Czech underground scene, and Canadian native art". Czech Radio. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  5. ^ Oujezdský, Karel (28 February 2011). ""Veselé gheto" 70. let ve fotografiích Heleny Wilsonové" (in Czech). Czech Radio. Retrieved 26 November 2022.