The poet and sculptor Zbyšek Macháček was born in Děčín. Many of his beautifully-honed wooden sculptures reflect his rural upbringing, reflecting the natural world in the form of leaves, birds and fish.

But he is also sensitive to the connections between the earthly and spiritual realms. Angels feature prominently in his work, often combining bodies of finished wood with wings fashioned from bark or rootstock.

He studied fisheries science and later worked at the Fisheries Research Institute in South Bohemia. In the 1990s he began to develop his creative skills, devoting himself to painting and sculpture. Macháček exhibits in the region, and also promotes the work of fellow artists from his creative studio near Česká Kamenice.