František Úprka was a Czech sculptor and the brother of painter Joža Uprka. Like his brother, he was inspired to pursue a creative career by his father, who was a self-taught artist. He trained initially in wood carving in Valašské Meziříčí before moving to Prague, where, despite not being accepted into the Academy of Fine Arts due to an incomplete formal education, he apprenticed in stone carving and studied sculpture. After completing military service, he traveled through Czech and German cities to further his sculptural training, settling permanently in Prague in 1896.

To distinguish himself from his brother within shared artistic circles, Franta used a different diacritic in his surname. Úprka exhibited his work internationally to significant acclaim, showing work in Milan, Venice, Turin, Rome, and London. Like his brother, he was celebrated for depicting a Moravian subject matter. Although his sculptures were less colorful due to the use of stone and wood material, his figures express a Moravian identity through their costuming. Many of his figures are quite dynamic, swaying their dresses and striking poses to show off their garments. Toward the end of his life, Úprka frequently worked in Slovakia, producing decorative additions for public buildings in Bratislava, bridging his practice into public art.