In my figurative paintings, my attention is on the connection between human experience and expression. In my works I paint emotional portraits, where the character or characters are based on imagined archetypes, who are displaying different attitudes; the emotional experience was derived from life. Recently I am also interested in what the surface shows while masking emotions. Now, I often have small groups of two and three on one canvas, I am interested in their relationship to each other and the outside world, and how the outside world is viewing them. I find ordinary moments extra-ordinary, as if you were holding a mirror up to Voyeurism.
Texture plays a big part in my paintings; it is derived from my tapestry weaving background when colors are made by mixing 4-5 different yarns, as a result they remain visible individually when viewed from close up. Like the woven surface, I allow the individual colors to be seen by using palette knives and adding molding medium the colors mix in the process of painting.
The portrait of the journalist, Sylvia von Harden by Otto Dix is one of the biggest influences in my art. What attracts me is the abstract quality in a very representational fashion; the narrative is incredibly minimalist yet the viewer has the sense of fully knowing the model. For me this type of representation is the epitome of portraiture; when the focus is on the personality and the presence of the sitter not on the likeness.
Bio
Born in Budapest, Hungary Zsofia received her art training with an emphasis on figure drawing and sculpting from Rita Kopek’s studio in Hungary. An art-scholarship brought her to North Central College in Naperville, IL in 1994, where she earned her BA degree in art and theater in 1997. During that time, she studied fiber art at the School of the Art Institute in Chicago. As a child, Zsofia learned tapestry weaving from her Mother, which is the basis of her relationship to and understanding of color, and its unique use in her work.
In 1999 she turned her full attention to painting; today she continues paint the human character. Currently she is working on series of paintings, where the characters are based on people seen during her travels and everyday life.
Press and Publications
• Redivider, literary Magazine/ Cover page, Issue 4.1 Fall 2006
• Chicago Sun-Times/ Show Case pg 66 “A Snapshot of Chicago’s Art Community, Oct.14, 2005
• Chicago Sun-Times/ The Mix, pg 3 "Coyote Pretty" Feb. 11, 2005
• Chicago Tribune/ entertainment "Artists' beliefs used to inspire not proselytize" July 9, 2004
• Footlight/Cover Page, Marcus Promotion Inc. December, 2002
• Around the Coyote,http://www.robertwittig.com/paper40.html. 2002
• Suite Home Chicago, Neptune Art, 2001
• New Art International, Book Art Press, 2001
Awards
• Community Arts Assistance Program Grant, Cultural Affairs of the City of Chicago IL, 2006
• Community Arts Assistance Program Grant, Cultural Affairs of the City of Chicago IL, 2005
• Around the Coyote Arts Festival, Curator’s Choice, Chicago IL, 2005
• Award of Excellence, Skokie Art Fair, Skokie, IL, 2001
• “Les Regardes des Jeunnes sur la revolution Francais”, Centre Pompidue, Paris, France,1989
Affiliations
• Chicago Artists' Collective (Charcoll) 2003-Present www.charcoll.com
• Illinois Artisans' Program 2002- Present
• Chicago Artists' Coalition 2000- Present
• Friends of the Arts 2005- Present
