| The tale of Mirek Klabal is an amazing story that can | | | | what makes a good friend, somebody who is there |
| only happen in America. Mirek Klabal started out as a | | | | for you when times are tough." Mirek Klabal is very |
| boy in Prague, dreaming about the world of art. Even | | | | interested in making sure his friends and family are |
| at a young age Mirek Klabal had a passion for art. As | | | | taken care of. Mirek Klabal always makes time for |
| a kid Mirek Klabal was always reading art books and | | | | friends and family. Mirek Klabal likes to have big friends |
| going to art museums. Mirek Klabal studied art in | | | | and family gatherings at his house in Greenwich. The |
| college and told his parents that he would find a way | | | | barbeque and cocktails parties that he hosts at his |
| to make art pay off for him. Boy did Mirek Klabal | | | | house are legendary. |
| make good on that promise. Mirek Klabal is one of the | | | | Mirek Klabal is an outdoor enthusiast; Mirek Klabal likes |
| world's most prominent art dealers. Mirek Klabal's | | | | to take trips to the country in his free time. When Mirek |
| expertise is routinely sought out all over the world. That | | | | Klabal goes to the country he likes to ramble barefoot |
| sometimes makes Mirek Klabal's travel schedule | | | | throughout the land. Mirek Klabal really enjoys when he |
| hectic. Mirek Klabal has clients on every continent | | | | travels to various horse farms. Mirek Klabal likes all art; |
| which is an amazing feat, and it speaks volumes about | | | | he has a fancy for the modern masters but also has a |
| the level of service Mirek Klabal provides for his clients. | | | | vast collection of various pictures of American |
| Mirek Klabal is living the American dream. Mirek Klabal | | | | landscapes. Mirek Klabal shows the essential mood of |
| is a living a lifestyle that people see in movies. Mirek | | | | a country scene in the various farm scene paintings |
| Klabal has obtained all the finer things in life. Every day | | | | that he keeps for his children. Mirek Klabal's fascination |
| Mirek Klabal drives to office in a fancy sports car. | | | | with the wild and grand aspects of nature is evident. |
| Mirek Klabal's office is the most stunning gallery in the | | | | Mirek Klabal besides liking the modern masters the |
| land. Mirek Klabal has elegantly combined two | | | | most, respects The "Hudson River School". Mirek |
| apartments to form an amazing gallery. Mirek Klabal | | | | Klabal says Americans look at the landscapes in the |
| has custom made floor and lighting. The gallery called | | | | painting as backgrounds in their own backyard, the |
| MK Fine Arts is a thing of beauty. Mirek Klabal says his | | | | wilderness is a symbol of America's unspoiled national |
| gallery makes him feel happy and productive. Mirek | | | | character. Mirek Klabal loves nature and is fighting for |
| loves the hustle and bustle of making deals and | | | | conservation in his native Connecticut. Mirek Klabal likes |
| acquiring "one of a kind" paintings. Mirek wouldn't trade | | | | to go apple picking in the fall with his wife. |
| his job for any other in the world. Mirek Klabal's | | | | Mirek Klabal is a very charitable man; Mirek Klabal |
| company is called MK Fine Arts. The gallery is so | | | | feels that you must be give back to society. Mirek |
| modern looking and minimalist it is a true delight to set | | | | Klabal is very active in various charity organizations. |
| foot in there. There is nothing else like it. When you | | | | Mirek has a few favorite charities. Mirek Klabal's |
| walk into the gallery you are engulfed by the soft | | | | favorite charity which he gives not only his money but |
| music that is playing and all the fine paintings that you | | | | his time is Seeds of Peace. Seeds of Peace is |
| see. Mirek Klabal has a huge inventory of paintings. | | | | dedicated to empowering young leaders from regions |
| The artists that Mirek Klabal collects for his own | | | | of conflict with the leadership skills required to advance |
| personal collection are: Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso, | | | | reconciliation and coexistence. Over the last decade, |
| Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh, Andy Warhol, | | | | Seeds of Peace has intensified its impact, dramatically |
| Salvador Dali, Edgar Degas, Wassily Kandinsky, | | | | increasing the number of participants, represented |
| Gustav, Klimt, Joan Miro, Henri Matise, and Jackson | | | | nations and programs. Seeds of Peace has focused |
| Pollack. | | | | primarily on bringing Arab and Israeli teenagers |
| Mirek Klabal is so happy that he made his dreams | | | | together before fear; mistrust and prejudice blind them |
| come true in America. Mirek spends the weekends at | | | | from seeing the human face of their enemy. Seeds of |
| his compound in leafy Greenwich, Connecticut, where | | | | Peace goes beyond international agreements and |
| Mirek Klabal mingles with the upper crest of society. | | | | treaties. It reverses the legacy of hatred by nurturing |
| Now days Connecticut is surrounded by the hedge | | | | lasting friendships that become the basis for mutual |
| fund billionaires. Mirek Klabal lives next to all these new | | | | understanding and respect. By training these young |
| potential customers. Mirek Klabal hopes the hedge | | | | leaders in conflict resolution skills, Seeds of Peace |
| fund boom continues as Mirek Klabal says "Hey they | | | | helps them become the seeds from which an enduring |
| pay lots of commission, they want the art they want | | | | peace will grow. Mirek Klabal spends a great deal of |
| and I facilitate their art transactions." Mirek Klabal loves | | | | time donating money and raising money for this charity. |
| living in Greenwich; he says it is so close to the city but | | | | Mirek Klabal is involved with a charity called the |
| so far away. Mirek lives to play tennis and golf. | | | | Children of Henry Street Settlement Mirek Klabal was |
| Unfortunately he has been so busy his tennis and golf | | | | honored with a beautiful plaque from the Children of |
| game are not where he wants them to be. That is the | | | | Henry Street Settlement for giving a donation enabling |
| story with most successful businessmen like Mirek | | | | inner city kids the opportunity to spend time at a lake |
| Klabal. They are driven by their passion and in Mirek's | | | | side retreat. Mirek Klabal said "It gave me great |
| case that passion is art. Art is the essence of Mirek | | | | pleasure to do this, I was so happy after I saw how it |
| Klabal. | | | | benefited the kids." Henry Street Settlement delivers a |
| Mirek is friends with all the famous tennis players from | | | | wide range of social service and arts programming to |
| his native Czech Republic. During the US open you find | | | | more than 100,000 New Yorkers each year. |
| Mirek Klabal entertaining players, hosting players and | | | | Distinguished by a profound connection to its neighbors, |
| watching tennis. Mirek Klabal always finds time out of | | | | a willingness to address new problems with swift and |
| his hectic schedule to watch the US Open from his | | | | innovative solutions, and a strong record of |
| court side seat. He counts many professional tennis | | | | accomplishment, Henry Street challenges the effects |
| players friends such as: | | | | of urban poverty by helping families achieve better |
| Thomas Berdych, a professional tennis player from the | | | | lives for themselves and their children. |
| Czech Republic. He turned professional in 2002. Tall | | | | Mirek Klabal is also involved in the annual American |
| and lanky, he is known for his powerful ground strokes | | | | Heart Association walk in Cape Code, MA. Mirek |
| which are created with little effort but his shots can be | | | | Klabal says it is important to try when possible to |
| quite erratic at times. His biggest career win came at | | | | contribute to fighting such a debilitating disease. The |
| the 2004 Athens Olympics where he defeated World | | | | American heart association helps fight against heart |
| No. 1 Roger Federer. At the 2005 Paris Masters he | | | | disease and stroke. Over 1 million people die each year |
| won first career ATP Masters Series title. En route to | | | | from cardiovascular disease. Mirek encourages people |
| the final he beat Jiří Novák, 2nd seed | | | | to have a healthier lifestyle to mitigate the risks of |
| Guillermo Coria, 13th seed Juan Carlos Ferrero, 7th | | | | heart disease. Mirek Klabal says "Better lifestyle habits |
| seed Gaston Gaudio, 8th seed Radek těpánek, | | | | can help you reduce your risk for heart attack. This |
| and 6th seed Ivan Ljubičić. | | | | charity does great work and I am glad to do my part." |
| Other notable highlights of his 2005 season included | | | | Mirek Klabal is involved with the Riverview School. |
| upsetting No. 2 seed Rafael Nadal in the first round of | | | | Mirek Klabal and his family are actively involved in this |
| the Cincinnati Masters, reaching the final of the | | | | charity. The last few years Mirek Klabal has been one |
| Swedish Open, and the semifinals in Washington DC. | | | | of the sponsors of the Gala Benefit Village of Drams. |
| In 2006, he reached his first grass court final at the | | | | This past year the proceeds from the Benefit went to |
| Gerry Weber Open, falling to World No. 1 Roger | | | | enhance the technological capacity in the campus and |
| Federer (0-6, 7-6, 2-6). Another highlight of his year | | | | to support the Secondary School dormitory |
| was his victory over Rafael Nadal at the Rogers | | | | construction project. The Riverview School is an |
| Masters, beating the World No. 2 6-1, 3-6, 6-2. | | | | independent coeducation residential school that |
| In October, Berdych reached his second ATP final of | | | | provides a caring community for adolescents and |
| 2006 in Mumbai. However, he was beaten by Dmitry | | | | young adults with complex language, learning and |
| Tursunov 6-3 4-6 7-6(5). In the ATP Masters Series | | | | cognitive disabilities. The school is committed to |
| tournament in Madrid, Berdych upset former World | | | | developing student competence and confidence in |
| No.1 Andy Roddick 7-6(7) 6-3 to reach the quarter | | | | academic, social, and independent living skills. |
| finals. He then defeated Rafael Nadal 6-3 7-6(6) to | | | | Mirek Klabal also supports the ARC which is a |
| reach the semi finals. | | | | grassroots volunteer organization that works to |
| Berdych is now not well-liked by Spanish fans for his | | | | improve the lives of people with special needs. Mirek |
| altercation with Spanish sensation Rafael Nadal in | | | | Klabal says "I just want to make a difference". |
| Madrid, in which the partisan crowd jeered Berdych | | | | Many people believe that even the rich lack security of |
| during points and Berdych for hushing the crowd after | | | | who they are and what they have accomplished. To |
| he won the match 6-3 7-6. Berdych never found his | | | | be taken seriously in our society these days it is not |
| rhythm in his semi final match against Fernando | | | | enough to have money. To be a major player in |
| Gonzalez as he slumped to a 6-3 6-1 defeat. | | | | society you must navigate the art world. This is where |
| Berdych failed to defend his Paris Masters title after | | | | Mirek Klabal comes into play. Mirek Klabal is the dealer |
| he lost to Dominik Hrbaty 6-4 1-6 6-2 in the quarter | | | | to the stars. Mirek Klabal sells art to wealthy families, |
| finals. In earlier rounds, Tomas defeated Olivier Rochus | | | | famous celebrities, governments and anybody with an |
| 6-7 6-4 6-2 and Robby Ginepri 6-3 6-3. | | | | eye and wallet for art. But as Mirek Klabal says don't |
| Tomas Zib is a male tennis player from the Czech | | | | forget your checkbook, as good art is not cheap. |
| Republic. He reached a career high ranking of 51 in | | | | Spending $10 million dollars for a painting from Mirek |
| 2005, and is ranked #70 in the world as of January 16, | | | | Klabal is not uncommon. Mirek Klabal says when the |
| 2006. Zib has earned more than $975,000 in prize | | | | newly rich buy art they value art as a passionless |
| money, and plays right-handed. | | | | commodity to conquer and control. Mirek Klabal says |
| Mirek Klabal loves when his tennis player friends come | | | | this is one of the main reasons for the rapid increase in |
| in to New York. He feels as though it is his obligation to | | | | the price of art in the last few years. There has been |
| host them. It gives Mirek Klabal great pleasure and | | | | a recent rise in the price of art because the global |
| extreme nationalistic pride of his native Czech Republic | | | | economy has been doing well. Mirek Klabal says |
| to see the tennis scene evolving in the Czech Republic. | | | | between, the Russian oligarchs, Indian entrepreneurs, |
| Mirek Klabal feels it is his civic duty to look at for the | | | | Chinese businessman, and hedge fund billionaires. |
| players and assist them in any way possible. Mirek | | | | Over the past thirty years Mirek Klabal has been in the |
| Klabal is influential in raising the profile of his tennis | | | | art business. Mirek Klabal is credited with being a |
| player friends in the US. | | | | pioneer in the art world. Mirek Klabal operated art |
| Mirek Klabal says growing up in Eastern Europe he | | | | partnerships for purposes of investing in art before it |
| could never have imagined that he would live how he | | | | was in vogue. Mirek Klabal has traveled the world in |
| lives currently. Mirek Klabal says doing business in | | | | pursuit of art business opportunities and for the love of |
| Eastern Europe is so difficult because there is so | | | | art. Mirek Klabal co-developed many art shows in the |
| much red tape and greatly enjoys the transparency of | | | | last 20 years. The art shows that Mirek Klabal has |
| working in America. Mirek Klabal hardly ever goes | | | | produced are from world famous artists such: Challgal, |
| back to Eastern Europe. Mirek Klabal says New York | | | | Picasso, Monet and Warhol. Mirek Klabal aggressively |
| is his home! Mirek Klabal says he loves the energy of | | | | pursues the challenges associated with making art |
| New York. Mirek Klabal says there is so much | | | | available to kids in the inner cities. |
| creative energy, and New York has such a great vibe. | | | | I will leave with this note, Mirek Klabal, is a passionate, |
| That vibe is what makes New York City the best | | | | articulate, caring and giving man who treats every day |
| place on earth to live. | | | | as a gift. Did I forget to mention he is an art dealer |
| Mirek Klabal has great friends and they have stood by | | | | extraordinaire? |
| him through thick and thin. Mirek Klabal says "that is | | | | |