Early Life, Family and Training

Richard Fleissner enters the world on April 3, 1903, in Město Touškov, Czech Republic. He is born into a family defined by the structured life of a court official. His early years are shaped by this environment, moving through the landscapes of the region before his talent pulls him toward the capital.

The year 1921 marks a shift. Fleissner is admitted to the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague, a move that transitions him from the provincial life of his birth into the rigorous atmosphere of formal training. He spends the next five years within the Academy's walls, studying there until 1926. It is during these formative years in Prague that his professional identity begins to solidify through the discipline of the studio.

Personal and professional paths converge in 1927. While navigating his early career, he meets Edita Plischková, a fellow student at the Academy. The two marry that same year, forming a partnership that bridges his academic training with the life he will build in the years to follow.

Professional Activity in Jablonec nad Nisou

After a period as a high school teacher in Aš, Fleissner moves to Jablonec nad Nisou. In 1927, he marries his former classmate, the painter Edita Plischková, and begins a long tenure as a professor at the State Vocational School for Art Industry. He remains in this pedagogical role until 1946. His presence in the city is marked by a commitment to bridging the gap between Czech and German-speaking communities, maintaining close ties with local Czech families and students.

His artistic profile expands through institutional affiliations and public exhibitions. Between 1932 and 1937, he is a member of the Prager Secession. In 1934, his work is included in a Czechoslovak art exhibition held in Vienna. However, the political climate shifts violently. As an active anti-fascist, Fleissner faces persecution following the events of 1938. The tension of the era moves from the classroom to direct resistance; he participates in sabotage activities at a military garrison in Liberec.

Later Years and Death in Germany

The political shifts in post-war Europe prompt a decisive move. Richard Fleissner voluntarily emigrates from Czechoslovakia, leaving behind his established life to settle in Bavaria. He finds resettlement in Munich, a city that becomes the backdrop for his final professional chapter. The transition marks a shift from his previous academic roles toward a focused return to independent creative production.

In Munich, his expertise in technical instruction finds a new venue. After 1948, he takes up a position as a professor of drawing at the German Master School for Fashion. He continues to balance this pedagogical responsibility with his own artistic practice. His presence in the Bavarian art scene remains steady until his death on May 4, 1989, in Gräfelfing, Germany.