Represented artist
Gaál József
festészet · szobrászat · grafika
Painter, sculptor and graphic artist, whose work recurrently features the grotesque, mask‑like face and an anthropomorphic hybrid creature.
Gaál József (1960) is a painter, sculptor and graphic artist whose visual work runs alongside a substantial body of pedagogical and literary activity. His art is distinguished by an emblematic concision, in which a consistently grotesque, heavily mask‑like visage appears—a symbolic utterance of the intellectual principles that surface from the unfathomable depths of the human soul.
His entire body of work bears witness to the attempts made to give materiallessness form, to condense it into a tangible substance, and to portray the invisible. The motif that conveys ordinary human character and archetypal personality traits appears as an independent element on paintings, graphics, and on small sculptures fashioned from wood, clay, or from strips of cloth cut with a hacksaw from bandage‑like material, expressed in strong, decisive gestures.
The mask, when taken as an entity, sometimes assumes shape within a series of varied, animal‑plant‑associated anthropomorphic hybrid creatures. In rendering the figures with a mythic spirit, the focus lies on locating, evoking, and reconstructing images that belong to the “ancient drama of humanity.”
This is accomplished in two ways: firstly, through a method of expressive articulation of one’s personal inner experiences, both conscious and unconscious fears and phobias; secondly, by processing the visual tradition depicting mythic figures of antiquity, Christianity and the East. The person pushed to the limits of ordinary existence, the archetypes of the commedia dell’arte, or the associative world of dreams, serve as further areas of inquiry.
The idea of everlasting existence is linked to an archaic approach to form, enhanced by raw colours and expressive surface treatments.
Works at byGodotEarlier professional biography
Full biography and exhibition history
GAÁL JÓZSEF
1960 Tahitótfalu
Studies:
From 1970 to 74 studied at Szentendrei Rajzkör
He graduated from the Academy of Fine and Applied Arts in 1978.
graduated from the Hungarian Academy of Fine Arts in 1983
continuing‑education student until 1986
In 1984 it travelled across the Greek islands.
In 1988 in Umbria she discovered the Etruscan culture.
1991 Roman Scholarship – Roman Hungarian Academy
1993‑tól teaches at the Hungarian University of Fine Arts, currently a docent.
Since 1995 he has been working on music and acoustic experiments at 1999. The Paris scholarship – Cité Internationale des Arts – also continues writing and critical work.
Most important prizes:
1984 Herman Lipót Foundation award, Hungarian Academy of Fine Arts
1985 Kondor Béla Memorial Prize, XIII National Graphic Biennale
1986–89 Derkovits Scholarship
1987 Nógrád County Grand Prize, Kassák Memorial Exhibition, Salgótarján
1989 the Minister of Culture’s Main Award, XV National Graphics Biennial.
1991 Barcsay Foundation prize Munkácsy Prize XVI National Graphic Biennale Grand Prize
1994 Neufeld Anna memorial award 1996 Csohány Kálmán award, Salgótarján Drawing Biennale
1997 Prize of the Kurucz D. István Foundation, Vásárhelyi Autumn Exhibition
Individual exhibitions:
1984 Plant, Bercsényi College, Budapest
1985 Collages, Gallery 11, Budapest
Eötvös Klub, Budapest
1986 Gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts, Budapest
1988 Serbian church, Balassagyarmat
Hincz Gyula Collection Chamber, Vác
1989 Prothesis, Óbudai Pincegaléria, Budapest
József Attila Cultural Centre, Makó
1990 Studio Gallery, Budapest
1992 House of Free Culture, Székesfehérvár
Levél, Gallery by Night, Studio Gallery, Budapest (Weber Imre, Abody Rita)
Morelight Image, Palme House, Budapest (Tóth Menyhért, Samu Géza)
Imagien del Otro Mundo, Expo 92, Seville, (Tóth Menyhért, Samu Géza)
Monotípiák, Hungarian Institute, Helsinki
No limits, Rauma Art Museum, Rauma (Szurcsik József, Mika Kavasto)
1993 Hungarian National Graphing, Maja Gallery, Tallinn (Szurcsik József)
Oraculo, Gallery by Night, Studio Gallery, Budapest (Szurcsik József, Kopasz Tamás)
Homo humusz, Vizivárosi Gallery, Budapest (Imre Szemethy)
Gaál-Kopasz-Szurcsik, Miskolc Gallery, Miskolc
Hong Kong, Mű‑Terem Exhibition, Budapest (Szurcsik József)
Szombathely Picture Gallery, Szombathely
Exhibition of the winner of the XVI National Graphic Biennale, Miskolc Gallery, Petró House, Miskolc
1994 Gallery by Night, Studio Gallery, Budapest (Rácmolnár Sándor)
370 died Jacob Böhme, Óbuda Neighborhood Gallery, Budapest (Kótai Tamás)
Gaál-Kopasz-Szurcsik, Pécsi Gallery, Pécs
Tribute to Henri Michaux, Studio 1900 Gallery, Budapest
1995 Stage, Budapest
Homogram, Haus Ungarn, Berlin
Tohu va bohu, Greek Temple, Vác
1996 Fríz, Merlin Theatre, Budapest
Innónyo, Studio 1900 Gallery, Budapest
Macula, Vígadó Gallery, Budapest
1997 Orr, Forum Gallery, Budapest
Gaál-Kopasz-Szurcsik, Lipótvárosi Gallery, Budapest
Totentanz, St Mary's Church, Berlin
Icon, Artist Village Gallery, Szentendre
Nascente Luna, Galerie Mira‑Maku, Vienna
Cave, Ottoman‑era Entrance, Tata (Lévai Ádám)
Figura Penetra, Danube area, Vienna
Ante, Studio 1900 Gallery, Budapest
1998 Maskara, City Art Gallery, Győr
Arcok fala, Arcus Gallery, Vác
1999 Gold Art, Budapest
Katakomba, Komárom Little Gallery, Komárom (Zsolt Szamódy)
The Moment Marking – in memory of Henri Michaux, French Institute, Budapest
2000 Gnome, Godot Gallery, Budapest
Summa, Miskolc Gallery, Rákóczi House, Miskolc
2001 Imagio, Dorottya Gallery, Budapest
Tacepao, Bazovsky Gallery, Budapest
2002 Marszüasz, Studio 1900 Gallery, Budapest
2003 Gnome II., Godot Gallery, Budapest
Drawings, Gallery IX, Budapest
2004 Várnegyed Gallery, Budapest (with Tamás Kopasz)
Maintenance book, Gallery 78, Sopron
Moonbook, Miskolc Gallery, Miskolc
The Kiscelli Museum, Budapest – existing only in a dream.
2005 In the dream, existing, European City of Culture – Cork, Ireland
The Dream‑Existing II., Godot Gallery, Budapest
Fejek, Pécsi Gallery, Pécs
Együgyüek, the Ever‑Moving Gallery, Budapest
2006 Sámsara, Aulich Art Gallery, Budapest
2007 Bello brutto, Godot Gallery, Budapest
2008 Old ideas – the rusty crutches of the 80s, Gallery IX., Budapest
Együgyüek, Bartók 32 Gallery, Budapest
Brighella, 2009 Godot Gallery, Budapest
Group exhibitions (selection)
1983 National Fine Arts Exhibition, Műcsarnok, Budapest1985 Kosztolányi, Petőfi Literary Museum, Budapest
Studio ' 85, Ernst Museum, Budapest
III. International Painting Biennale, Nuremberg
1986 Studio ‘86’, Ernst Museum, Budapest
Academy of Fine Arts, Sidney
1987 Magical works, Lajos Utcai Exhibition Hall, Budapest
XVII. Salgótarján Spring Exhibition, Salgótarján
Miniature Painting Biennale, Lódź, Poland
Studio ’87, Ernst Museum, Budapest
Kassák Memorial Exhibition, Salgótarján, Fourteenth National Graphic Biennial, Miskolc
European Landscape Triennial, Trieste, Italy
Art today, Lajos Utcai Exhibition Hall, Budapest
Studio, Central Art Centre, Warsaw
Nude, Vajda Lajos Gallery, Szentendre
Hungarian Days, Dortmund
1988 Szaft, Ernst Museum, Budapest
Pest County Collection, Szentendre
European Graphic Biennale, Baden-Baden
V. European Graphic Biennale, Heidelberg
New Art Weaponry, Vársétány, Budapest
1989 Hungarian Art of the Eighties, Passau
Hungarian Pass, Enkehuset Gallery, Stockholm
Gallery Laderfabrik, Malmö
XV. National Graphic Biennale, Miskolc
56 exhibition, Vajda Lajos Pincegaléria, Szentendre
The dialectical and metaphysical approach to reality, Tétényi Gallery, Budapest
Blue Iron, Duna Gallery, Budapest
Symmetry and Asymmetry, Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest
1990 Lieblingsbilder, Cologne, Vienna, Budapest
Blue Red, Uitz Hall, Dunaújváros
Krachh, Győri Műcsarnok, Győr
Ecce homo, Vajda Lajos Gallery, Szentendre
Expansion II., Greek Temple, Vác
Agriculture in the visual arts, Agricultural Museum, Budapest
Budapest Studios, Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest
1991 Word/Photo, Kernstock room, Tatabánya
First Miskolc Plastic Bunny Exhibition, Mission Art Gallery, Miskolc
19. International Graphic Biennale, Ljubljana
Natura Morta, Studio, Budapest
Exhibition of Barcsay laureates, Aktív Art Gallery, Szentendre
XVI. National Graphic Biennial, Miskolc
Emblematic Endeavours, Lajos Street Exhibition Hall, Budapest
I. National Grotesque Exhibition, Kaposvár Process, Budapest Gallery, Budapest
Erotika in contemporary Hungarian graphic art, Árkád Gallery, Budapest
Studio ’91, Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest
Art Hamburg, Congress Centre, Hamburg
1992 Hexagonale ’91, Cultural Centre Sezana, Slovenia
At the International Drawing Biennale, Wroclaw, Poland
The Nature of Art, Fészek Gallery, Budapest
Homage to Szabó István lithographer, British Consulate, Budapest
Columbus' egg, Palme House, Budapest
City Cultural Centre, Paks
Play, Mission Art Gallery, Miskolc
Analog, Lajos Street Exhibition Hall, Budapest
The essence of things, Studio 1900 Gallery, Budapest
1993 Antiszex, Studio 1900 Galéria, Budapest
Exhibition of the Hungarian Watercolour Society, Esztergom Fortress Museum Arcade
Crystal Cabinet, Margitszigeti Water Tower, Budapest
Groteszk, Studio 1900 Gallery, Budapest
Young Hungarian Artist in Finland, Imatra–Nurmesz‑Kuopio
Macabre, Studio 1900 Gallery, Budapest
Enigma, Studio 1900 Galerie, Budapest
Exhibition of Roman scholars, Hungarian Academy, Rome
1994 Contemporary Print Art – Nagoya with Hungary, Nagoya, Japan
Contemporary Print Art – Citizen Gallery, Toyota, Japan
On the stronger side, Studio 1900 Gallery, Budapest
Csoma – The chances of survival, Kovászna
1995 Tunnel, Hungarian Cultural Institute, Prague
Puzzles, Miskolc Gallery, Miskolc
Culturalia, Brita Prinz Gallery, Madrid
III Graphic Biennale, Belgrade
I. National Colour Print Graphic Exhibition, House of Arts, Szekszárd
Dolce far niente, Studio 1900 Gallery, Budapest
Hungarian art, AR Galerie, Lyon
VII National Drawing Biennale, Salgótarján
1996 Bárka, Vigadó Gallery, Budapest
Makó Map, Hungarian College of Fine Arts, Budapest
Monastic Idols II, Greek temple, Vác
Art As Thought, Art As Energy, International Drawing Triennial, Wroclaw Avantgarda Gallery, Wroclaw
II National Pastel Biennial, Balassa Bálint Museum, Esztergom
1997 Segments, Vigadó Gallery, Budapest
Spleen, Merlin Gallery, Budapest
Shadow, Vizivárosi Gallery, Budapest
Gaze 18, Salons de la Mairie, Paris
Contemporary Hungarian Book Illustration, Haus Ungarn, Berlin
Homeland–Existence–Frieze, Hungarian Agricultural Museum, Budapest
Contemporary Hungarian–Italian Illustration, Vigadó Gallery, Budapest
Bridges ’96, Pest Center Gallery, Budapest
Jahr/hundert/tausend/w/ende, Signal Galerie, Dortmund
VIII National Drawing Biennial, Salgótarján
And, Collegium Hungaricum, Vienna
Dialogue, Szentendre Gallery, Szentendre
Oil/Canvas, Kunsthalle, Budapest
4th International Drawing and Printmaking Biennial, Győr
44th Vásárhely Autumn Exhibition, Hódmezővásárhely
On Longing, Doppelt Galerie, Vienna
1998 Unhaut, Forum Schloss, Wolkersdorf, Austria
XIX National Printmaking Biennial, Miskolc
Ornamentation, Szombathely Art Gallery, Szombathely
Exhibition by V.L.S., New Gallery, Oradea,
Romania Masterpieces and Masterful Works, an exhibition by Első Magyar Látványtár, Tapolca-Diszel
3VLab, Cellar Gallery, Vác
Labyrint, II International Triennial of Prints, Prague
Trends in Contemporary Visual Art, Marcibányi Téri Cultural Centre, Budapest
Vorsicht 13 Doppelt, Donaraum Galerie, Vienna
Soul Blanket, an exhibition by 3Vlab, Greek Church, Vác
Process, Vigadó Gallery, Budapest
IX National Drawing Biennial, Nógrád History Museum, Salgótarján
1999 The History and Art of Screen Printing, Barcsay Hall, Budapest
Chaos and Order, Vigadó Gallery, Budapest
23rd International Biennial of Graphic Art, Ljubljana Kontravizie, Slovak National Gallery, Bratislava
2000 On Remembrance…, Vigadó Gallery, Budapest
Makó Portfolios, Budapest Gallery Exhibition House, Budapest
Homeland on High, School Gallery, Dunakeszi
Contemporary Kispest – Central European Art Meeting, Kispest Vigadó
2001 10th Triennale – India2001, International Exhibition of Contemporary Art, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi,
India Masks, House of Arts, Szombathely
Poetry and Visual Art, Fregatt Art Gallery, Budapest
Erotic Prints 2000, Godot Gallery, Budapest
Mysticism, 2001, Vigadó Gallery, Budapest
Denaturation – 3VLAB group, Kecskemét Art Gallery, Kecskemét
Milano Europa 2000. International Exhibition of Contemporary Art, PAC- Triennale di Milano
Exhibition moments
Images from a shared history
Solo and group exhibitions
Exhibitions at Godot 40
A New Beginning – From Collection to Collection 6.0Új kezdet – Gyűjteményből gyűjteménybe 6.0
11 September 2026 – 31 October 2026
Godot Galéria
Pseudohuman
30 April 2026
Godot Galéria
KIS HALÁL - Válogatás az MKE Gaál József -Tayler Patrick Nicholas osztály hallgatóinak műveiből
24 November 2023 – 6 December 2023
Godot Galéria
II. Godot Kortárs Aukció és Kiállítás 2021-04-21 — 2021-05-03
21 April 2021 – 3 May 2021
Godot Galéria
Gaál József: Trianon heraldikák 2020-10-15 — 2020-11-14
15 October 2020 – 14 November 2020
Godot Galéria
ART AND ANTIQUE 2020 – a Godot Galéria részvétele
5 March 2020
Millenáris
#g20 - A Godot 20 éves jubileumi kiállítása - 2019-09-05 — 2019-10-12
5 September 2019 – 12 October 2019
Godot Galéria
Terem / a Magyar Képzőművészeti Egyetem Gaál József osztályának kiállítása 2019-06-18 — 2019-06-22
18 June 2019 – 22 June 2019
Godot Galéria
Gaál József: Corpus Hystericum 2019-02-15 — 2019-03-23
15 February 2019 – 23 March 2019
Godot Galéria
Gaál József: Bestia 2017-05-02 — 2017-06-03 - Godot Galéria
2 May 2017 – 3 June 2017
Godot Galéria
Nagykarácsony - Kortárs műtárgyat karácsonyra II.
25 November 2016 – 18 December 2016
Godot Galéria
ART MARKET BUDAPEST 2016 – a Godot Galéria részvétele
13 October 2016
Millenáris
Kortárs műtárgyat karácsonyra!
26 November 2015 – 20 December 2015
Godot Galéria
Gaál József: Persona fragmenta - 2014-09-03 — 2014-10-04 - Godot Galéria
3 September 2014 – 4 October 2014
Godot Galéria
black&white
22 May 2013 – 22 June 2013
Godot Galéria
ART MARKET BUDAPEST 2012 – a Godot Galéria részvétele
8 November 2012
Millenáris
Gaál József: Phantasma - Transhuman Fetish
6 June 2012 – 7 July 2012
Godot Galéria
ART MARKET BUDAPEST 2011 – a Godot Galéria részvétele
27 October 2011
Millenáris, B csarnok
Kortárs Magángyűjtemények XVI. - Hetényi Csaba gyűjteménye
18 May 2011 – 11 June 2011
Godot Galéria
Zacc?
19 January 2011 – 5 March 2011
Godot Galéria
ART MARKET BUDAPEST 2010 – a Godot Galéria részvétele
11 November 2010
Krisztina Palace
Gaál József: Faragott képek
30 April 2010 – 22 May 2010
Godot Galéria
BERLINER LISTE 2009 – a Godot Galéria részvétele
24 September 2009
Palais am Tiergarten
Kortárs magángyűjtemények XIV. - Offenbächer Ferenc gyűjteménye
6 May 2009 – 30 May 2009
Godot Galéria
Gaál József: Brighella
4 February 2009 – 28 February 2009
Godot Galéria
Téli tárlat
28 November 2007 – 22 December 2007
Godot Galéria
BUDAPEST ART FAIR 2007 – a Godot Galéria részvétele
22 November 2007
Műcsarnok
Kortárs magángyűjtemények XI.: Dr. Nagy Miklós gyűjteménye
4 October 2007 – 27 October 2007
Godot Galéria
Gaál József: Bello Brutto
28 February 2007 – 24 March 2007
Godot Galéria
Individuális petroglifák konceptuális absztrahálása
7 June 2006 – 17 June 2006
Godot Galéria
Kortárs Magángyűjtemények VII.: Kozák Gábor Gyűjteménye - Kettesben és egyedül
7 September 2005 – 1 October 2005
Godot Galéria
Gaál József: Álomban létező II. - 2005-02-16 — 2005-03-12 - Godot Galéria
16 February 2005 – 12 March 2005
Godot Galéria
Kortárs magángyűjtemények IV.: Feuer András gyűjteménye
15 September 2004 – 9 October 2004
Godot Galéria
Kortárs magángyűjtemények III.: Antal-Lusztig Gyűjtemény
3 December 2003 – 23 December 2003
Godot Galéria
MEO ART FAIR 2003 – a Godot Galéria részvétele
27 November 2003
MEO – Kortárs Művészeti Gyűjtemény
Választások 2003
3 November 2003 – 21 November 2003
Godot Galéria
Gaál József: Gnome II.
12 February 2003 – 14 March 2003
Godot Galéria
MEO ART FAIR 2002 – a Godot Galéria részvétele
28 November 2002
MEO – Kortárs Művészeti Gyűjtemény
Erotikus grafika
25 April 2001 – 11 May 2001
Godot Galéria
Gaál József: Gnome
11 October 2000 – 3 November 2000
Godot Galéria