[1][2] Born in Prague in 1937, Malina studied at the Pedagogical Faculty of Charles University from 1957 to 1961, then at the Academy of Fine Arts, from which he graduated in 1964, and at the Prague Academy of Performing Arts.
Malina served on the teaching staff at universities in the United States, Japan, Finland, and Great Britain.
Malina's career covered more than 40 years and included more than 450 scenographic works and costumes for theatre, film, and television, as well as 30 solo exhibitions of his scenographic works, paintings, graphics, and posters.
In his later years, his operatic projects were performed in Germany and Italy.
His works can be seen at the Theatre Research Institute at Ohio State University, at the Performing Arts Library and Museum in San Francisco, and in many public and private collections in the United States and elsewhere.