Zavřel in Sarmede
In 1968, Štěpán Zavřel made Rugolo, a part of Sarmede, his permanent residence. He purchased an abandoned farmhouse there, which he transformed into his home (now a private residence adorned with frescoes by the artist and his students). This marked the beginning of Sarmede’s evolution into a vibrant hub for artists from Central Europe and beyond, all drawn by his presence.
Over the years, Zavřel’s art reached international audiences through exhibitions in galleries and museums across Norway, Switzerland, South Africa, Germany, the United States, Central America, and Spain. A significant milestone was the 1982 exhibition of his “Venice Tomorrow” series at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. In 1983, Zavřel’s vision led to the creation of the International Children’s Illustration Exhibition, now known as Le Immagini della Fantasia. This was followed in 1988 by the establishment of the International School of Illustration. Štěpán Zavřel transformed this small town of three thousand inhabitants in the Treviso hills into a veritable “village of the fairy tale.” This enchanting atmosphere is palpable through the nearly seventy frescoes, a collaborative effort between Zavřel and numerous internationally acclaimed artists who visited Sarmede, adorning both public and private buildings throughout the area. Today, the Štěpán Zavřel Museum proudly houses around sixty of his captivating works.