His mother, Anna Kouglová, met and befriended young medical student Kamil Lhoták at the ball in Žofín.

Unequal social status and fears of damaging his career led Lhoták's father to hide his illegitimate son.

[2] During the World War II Lhoták created hundreds of artworks, and he also helped to establish the significant Czech art association Group 42.

According to Czech painter Libor Fára, one of Lhoták's presented paintings, "Dcera velkoměsta" (Daughter of a City), later caught the attention of Pablo Picasso at the exhibition in Paris.

During the 1960s and 1970s he increased his work activities, annually creating a large number of paintings and book illustrations and also helping with exhibitions.

Despite the dreamy atmosphere and poetic character, Lhoták's paintings retain strong reference to the real world and remain solely figurative.

Lhoták's style was significantly influenced by poetry, and especially by the works of Czech poets Jan Hanč and Ivan Blatný, fellow members of Group 42.

During the years he adapted his style to various modern trends, but he managed to maintain his originality and specific artistic expression.