Albin Polasek was born at Frenstat in Moravia, the Czech Republic in 1879. He came to the United States in 1901 making his trade as a wood carver. 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. During this time he created numerous pieces covering a broad range of subjects. In 1949, Mr. Polasek purchased a piece of property on Lake Osceola in Winter Park, Florida and built his retirement home and studio. In 1961 the Albin Polasek Foundation was established and a gallery built to house his works. He continued to create his art until he died at age 86 on May 19, 1965. The Albin Polasek Foundation operates his residence and studio in Winter Park, Florida as the Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens.
From the guide to the Albin Polasek, Collection., 1910-1982, (Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida Libraries, )
