If you think Hungarian painting is all tradition and nostalgia, it’s time to visit the major new exhibition at 41 Dózsa György Road, Budapest, showcasing the intense and unique art of Gyula Czimra (Czimra Gyula). Recognized as one of the most distinctive voices in 20th-century Hungarian painting, Czimra’s work is deeply personal, unapologetically solitary, and meticulously refined—qualities that have earned him a prominent place among Hungary’s most significant artists of his era. The collection—open from October 2025—features nearly 180 pieces, including paintings, sculptures, graphics, and tapestries, offering unparalleled insight into his artistic journey.
“Homely Exoticism” – Winkler Nóra’s Personal Tour
On October 19, from 11:00 to 12:00, art journalist Nóra Winkler (Winkler Nóra) will guide visitors through the exhibition, sharing her unique impressions. Czimra’s paintings present familiar spaces—the room, the street, the countryside—but always with a twist. The settings feel both intimate and enigmatic, exuding a strange exoticism hidden within everyday life. Winkler, who spends most of her time immersed in art, confesses that it is rare for a single artist’s work to sweep her away so completely. During this exclusive tour, she’ll try to unravel what makes Czimra’s visual world so irresistible and moving.
A standard ticket costs around $19, concession tickets about $11, with tours capped at 17 people. The group meets at the entrance to the exhibition on the third floor.
“Without Shadow” – Guided by Curator Marianna Kolozsváry
For a deeper dive, join Marianna Kolozsváry (Kolozsváry Marianna)—the exhibition curator—on October 21 from 16:00–17:00 or October 25 from 14:00–16:00. Every period of Czimra’s creative life is represented, but it’s his small, intimate paintings from his later years that are a true revelation. These interior scenes—bare except for a single chair or table—don’t recreate real domestic spaces; instead, they invite contemplation, creating a world detached from everyday reality. The exhibition’s title, “Without Shadow,” is a nod both to Czimra’s luminous compositions and his characteristically withdrawn lifestyle. Now, for what feels like the first time, he’s stepping out of the shadows. Tickets are $19 for adults and $11 for concessions. Only 17 visitors per session; book online or onsite on a first-come, first-served basis.
“Silence/Life” – The Sounds and Colors of Loneliness
If silent color and stillness appeal to you, join the “Silence/Life” guided tour on October 19 from 14:00–15:00. Czimra once said he “spent half his life searching for himself,” and the evolution is clear: his youthful charcoal and ink drawings feature vivid colors, bold landscapes, and self-portraits, but over time, his palette softened. Focusing on the quiet, ascetic corners of his own home, his later works radiate both a tense alienation and the protective calm of personal space. Taken in chronological, thematic sections, the tour walks visitors through a career like no other. You’ll need a special program ticket ($4.30) in addition to your exhibition ticket; tours last 60 minutes, with groups limited to 17 people, meeting at the information desk.
