Key West Florida Weekly

GALLERY SCENE

Closing reception for Norbert Szilagyi at SALT


 

 

After a long hiatus from the art world, much-beloved Key West folk artist Norbert Szilagyi made his triumphant return to the gallery scene. Through April, SALT Gallery (830 Fleming St.) has featured a new collection of Szilagyi’s vivid acrylic paintings in an exhibit titled “Folk on the Border.”

The exhibit closes with a reception from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, April 25.

As a child, Szilagyi immigrated to the U.S. with his family after escaping their native Hungary during a revolution attempt. He grew up in Ohio, served in the U.S. Navy and subsequently returned to Ohio to attend Kent State University.

In 1987, Szilagyi found his way to Key West and settled here to start creating art. He became a disruptive force in the art scene in more ways than one.

Driven by the lack of art in public places in Key West, he took it upon himself to paint a city bus bench in his typical colorful style. To thank him for his service, the city issued him a police citation for vandalism, which was promptly rescinded and followed up with a request to paint more benches.

Key West folk artist Norbert Szilagyi returned to the gallery scene with a new collection of paintings titled “Folk on the Border.” COURTESY PHOTOS

Key West folk artist Norbert Szilagyi returned to the gallery scene with a new collection of paintings titled “Folk on the Border.” COURTESY PHOTOS

In the early 1990s, Szilagyi left Key West to pursue his interest in Buddhism. He moved to Taiwan and traveled extensively throughout Asia, visiting monasteries in Bali, Thailand and Taiwan, and studying Mandarin and Tai Chi Chuan.

While away, he continued to paint and sent paintings back to Key West galleries to sell.

After two years in Asia, he returned to the U.S. and became ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist monk at a retreat in Delhi, N.Y. He moved back to Key West and kept painting, but, as he tells it, “I felt I was getting a little burned out, so I retired completely from art.”

Szilagyi’s work is best described as Tropical Primitive — a neo-tribal look with ragged black outlines and bold, highly decorative borders. His use of bright colors and whimsical motifs results in pieces that are vibrant and eye-catching.

“The overarching theme for this show is ‘fun and whimsy,’” he says. “One thing I’ve done with my current paintings that I haven’t done in the past is limit the amount of colors I use. All of my current paintings have the same color in them, which gives the entire set a common element of unity.”

 

 

Traces of Szilagyi’s travels throughout Asia are evident in many of his pieces.

“Chinese folk art is hugely influential to me,” he says. “When I was living in Taiwan, I became familiar with Chinese folk art,” he adds. “Many of my birds, animals and border designs are influenced by it.”

His work also evinces an admiration for primitive and tribal art, French Expressionist Georges Rouault and French Impressionist Henri Rousseau.

“We are absolutely honored that Norbert approached SALT to show his first works in years,” says gallery owner Laura Richardson. “His paintings are colorful and alive, familiar yet innovative, and so evocative. We hope this exhibit heralds a triumphant return for Norbert to the Key West art scene.”

 

 

SALT Gallery features an eclectic collection of local art, local sea salts, jewelry, pottery, wine, and Florida Keys honey. Ms. Richardson and co-owner Maria Sharpe showcase a new artist each month. Szilagyi’s work is on display through April 30. For more information, call 305-517-6088 or visit www.saltislandprovisions.com. ¦

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