born in 1953 in prague, musilek relocated to west germany with his family in 1968, having fled czechoslovakia following the soviet invasion. he attended college at the university of heidelberg, receiving his degree in mathematics in 1977. musilek moved to the united states the following year, competing as a midfielder for the university of san francisco's men's soccer team. he was a member of the team in 1980, when the usf dons won the division i ncaa championship. musilek ultimately received his mfa in photography from the academy of art university in san francisco in 1982.