The Art and Life of Alex Kolozsy – Sculptor | Exhibition

Blacktown resident of over 30 years, Vitéz Dr. Alex Sándor Kolozsy, will be exhibiting 50 of his artworks at The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre.

Alex arrived in Australia in 1958 on the Dutch ship, Johan Van Oldevarneveld, with 3,000 Dutch and seven Hungarian migrants. Two years earlier he was a young freedom-fighter in Budapest repelling the invasion of his country by the Russians, taking over a tank in front of the Parliament building and hoisting the Hungarian national flag, despite being wounded. This same flag is part of the artist’s personal memorabilia to be featured in the exhibition alongside his sculptures, drawings and paintings.

The artist’s inspiration has come from the classical European tradition of sculpture. “I think Rodin is one of my favourites,” says Kolozsy. “I do not copy, but over the years I have developed my own impressionistic figurative style.”

“My sculptures are not smooth,” he says. “I have a certain texture on the surfaces, and I refine the highlights, and I aim to reflect the spirit and soul of the person in their portrait, which is the most important aspect of my work.”

The exhibition features bronze artworks of many well-known Australian figures, including the late artist, Tom Bass, and musician, Johnny O’Keefe, and famous places including the Kokoda Trail.

Dr Kolozsy has many permanent public sculptures across Australia, including a memorial to the pioneering women of Australia located at Jessie Street Square in Sydney.

Dr Kolozsy was awarded an International Gold Medal in 1981 by the Arpad Academy in Cleveland, Ohio, and in 1991 he was awarded a Cultural Doctorate in Visual Arts from Benson, Arizona. His work is held in the Royal Art Collection, London, the Presidential Collection, Washington, National Portrait Gallery, Canberra and the Australian Parliament Art Collection. Last year he was knighted as vitéz by the Hungarian Parliament. He is currently Sculptor-in-Residence with the Blacktown Showground Society.

Exhibition:
23 May – 27 June 2019
The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm.
Admission to the exhibition is free.

Image Credit:  Alex Kolozsy, Two Vases, 1995.