In his sumptuous, painterly renderings of memory, light, and emotion, István Csizmadia relates the personal experiences of his life with the keen eye of a true artist. Fearlessly applying oil paint to the canvas with bold, highly gestural strokes, Csizmadia produces works of striking dexterity. An adept painter, the artist employs the power of color and light to conjure an array of moods from the hotly seductive to the wistfully nostalgic: the warm light of day cascades across ancient ruins, a spotlight plays across the softness of flesh. Although imbued with strong sense of vital energy, Csizmadia’s works are equally remarkable for their careful balance and elegant composition. Both moving and intellectual, each painting is a testament to the method through which it was conceived.
István Csizmadia lives and works in Gyor, Hungary. He exhibits his work throughout the country and was recently selected for inclusion in the Hungarian National Gallery.
My first composition was a small graphic when I was only 4 years old, which I framed with firelighter wood. I was 10 when I read an interesting 2-volume book about the life of Mihály Munkácsy. The book reflected the possibility of splendor, luxury and success. In the early years, my main subject was nature. Thereafter, I enlarged my scope to individual thoughts, emotions and human destiny. Today I focus on three topics: human relations, memories of my journeys, light and colors. The size of my pictures changed over the years; I dared to expose my ideas on larger canvases.
