Štursa was born in 1880 in Nové Město na Moravě. He studied masonry and sculpture in Hořice and worked as a stonecutter. Later, he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague under professor Josef Myslbek, a known sculptor. Štursa was famed for his impressive, pensive sculpture work, some of which were dedicated to the victims of WWI. As a member of the Association of Moravian Artists (SVUM), Štursa is a great example of turn of the century art and interpretation in the region. He is considered to be one of the founders of modern Czech sculpture.