Otte Wallish: From Znojmo to Tel Aviv

On the occasion of the 120th anniversary of Otte Wallish’s birth, we are symbolically opening an exhibition presenting the work of this leading Israeli graphic artist. Otte Wallish was born in Znojmo in 1906. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, and in the early 1930s, he opened his own graphic studio in Prague, where he regularly collaborated with the Jewish National Fund. He primarily designed advertising flyers, film posters, and provided graphic layouts for books. In 1934, he moved to Mandatory Palestine, where he continued his creative work. In 1948, he designed the Declaration of Independence of the State of Israel; he also created the first Israeli stamps and coins and contributed to the design of the Israel Police emblem. Alongside state commissions, he also focused on commercial projects—creating several thousand posters, some of which are considered icons of graphic design in Israel.

The author of the exhibition is Eva Janáčová. The exhibition is held under the auspices of the Embassy of the State of Israel, the city of Znojmo, and the South Moravian Region. The exhibition was supported by the Jewish Museum in Prague, the National Museum, the Czech Numismatic Society, the National Film Archive, and private collectors.