Over the past four years, his initiative has been supporting artists inspired by various sports, including cycling. The project has already hosted exhibitions in prestigious galleries and even made its mark in Paris during last year’s Olympic Games. But beyond being a visionary marketeer, Jan is also a passionate cyclist, spending nearly every day in the saddle.
Turning passion into a global concept
Some people dream big—Jan Dvořák makes it happen. His journey from an ambitious idea to a fully-fledged platform promoting sports-themed art took less than four years. Together with co-founders Marek Tesař and Petr Lešek—who also co-own the sports marketing agency Raul—he set out to fill a global gap. “Before launching the project, we conducted research and realised that nothing like this existed anywhere in the world,” Jan explains. Today, his team includes an editor-in-chief, a graphic designer, a gallerist, a curator, and a business manager.
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Bringing sports-themed art to the world
At its core, Sport in Art discovers and showcases sports-inspired artworks, exhibiting them both at major sporting events and in elite galleries. Beyond exhibitions, the initiative also runs a curated online art gallery, where sports-themed pieces are available for purchase. Another crucial aspect of their work is the Grand Slam Nominations, recognising outstanding contributions to the fusion of art and sports, as well as the Open Call project, which supports emerging artists by giving them a chance to showcase their work alongside renowned names.
Two major milestones have shaped the project’s journey so far: an art exhibition during the World Rowing Championships and a showcase at the Paris Olympics. Additionally, last year saw two widely successful exhibitions in the Czech Republic: “Get on Ice”—dedicated to ice skating and hockey—hosted at the National Gallery Prague, and “Jízda” (The Ride)—celebrating cycling—staged at EPO1 contemporary art gallery. Combined, these exhibitions attracted over 10,000 visitors, including notable figures such as former New Jersey Devils forward Patrik Eliáš and former pro cyclist Roman Kreuziger.
Sport in Art also runs an editorial platform with a dedicated team based in London. In its home country, the project publishes an award-winning print magazine four times a year—a 140-page high-quality journal that recently won the prestigious Red Dot Award in Berlin.
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From sports marketing to art curation
Recently, Jan and his team opened a photography gallery in one of Prague’s most exclusive locations, featuring winning images from the World Sports Photography Awards. With a background in sports marketing, Jan has held management roles in major international agencies, and has organised sporting events like the RunTour running series and Masiv, a multi-stage cycling race where riders travelled between stages via sleeper train.
But above all, cycling is his true passion. He spends over 300 days a year on his bike, claiming, “I probably ride more than I walk.” While he trains systematically for races, he often rides just for the joy of it. In winter, he keeps fit using the Zwift platform with a high-quality Tacx trainer.
Jan’s bike collection is equally impressive. He rides a Santa Cruz Hightower for bike parks and trails, an Orbea Oiz for long cross-country rides, and a Specialized Tarmac S-Works for racing. For commuting and casual rides, he prefers his Cannondale Topstone.
A journey from triathlon to cycling
Although Jan has been cycling since childhood, his path to competitive cycling started through triathlon. “I first got into triathlon as a marketeer. I spent years working in advertising and branding. I was fascinated by the Ironman brand and one day, I realised I shouldn’t wear an Ironman t-shirt if I hadn’t actually done one! That’s just not right!” he laughs. One thing led to another, and soon enough, he was fully immersed in the sport. When it comes to cycling destinations, his top picks include Mallorca for road cycling and Bike Republic Sölden for mountain biking.
Cycling as freedom
Asked what cycling gives him, Jan doesn’t hesitate: “Freedom and speed. Then come friendships and fun.” The only downside? Sometimes, people who don’t know him well are surprised when he shows up to a business meeting on a bike. “It’s hard to hide a suit under a jersey,” he jokes.
Why sport in art?
For Jan, the answer is simple: “I love it.” He had been collecting art long before founding Sport in Art, though not always sports-themed pieces. But since sports have always been a fundamental part of his life, it was a natural evolution to merge his two greatest passions into one project. And so far, he’s proving that sports and art are a perfect match.
