From July 22 to July 27, 2025, the ancient stones of the former coronation basilica in Székesfehérvár (Székesfehérvár) will play host to an extraordinary retrospective: 33 textile works by Hager Ritta, Kossuth Prize-winning industrial artist, national artist, textile designer, and gobelin master. The exhibition, titled “The Route of Light and Joy,” reflects on Christ’s resurrection and the journey from sinful darkness to the radiant light of grace, echoing the essence of the Christian Easter mystery.
A Journey Through Light: Via Lucis – Inner Light
Hager Ritta’s artistic universe is steeped in spiritual and sacred themes. Light takes center stage in her creations, radiating calm and strength. She masterfully combines tapestry, ancient gobelin weaving, braiding, and knotting within a single piece, pushing her works beyond the limitations of flat surfaces. Instead, she creates highly textured, three-dimensional textile sculptures, which display not only serenity but also a playful dose of humor and irony. Her miniature textile sculptures seem to smile with subtle cheer.
Regardless of scale, Hager’s works balance a deep respect for tradition with relentless experimentation. The physical properties of her materials come to the forefront while simultaneously hinting at values and worlds that exist beyond the tangible. At their core, her pieces pulse with positivity, evoking the protective and guiding strength of a benevolent providence.
Spiritual Timelines and Artistic Depth
Via Lucis directly corresponds to the period from Easter to Pentecost in the Christian liturgical calendar—following the Passion of Christ and leading up to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The exhibition invites visitors to contemplate the passage from suffering and darkness to hope, liberation, joy, and the inner peace that culminates at Pentecost. Set among the historic stones of the basilica, these works seek to embody the INNER LIGHT that guides humanity toward the divine.
There is a sense of journey throughout—the pain of life is reframed as part of the route toward true purpose and fulfillment, echoing the theme of the “pilgrims of hope,” the motto for the Holy Year 2025, with an emphasis on a flourishing “culture of life.”
The Exhibition Experience
The retrospective will be open at the National Memorial Basilica Visitor Center (Várkörút 32) from May 31 to September 7, 2025, Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (ticket office closes at 5:30 PM). The event brings together works on loan from the Hungarian National Museum (Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum), the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (Magyar Tudományos Akadémia), the Savaria Museum – Szombathely Picture Gallery (Savaria Múzeum – Szombathelyi Képtár), and the Göcseji Museum (Göcseji Múzeum; Directorate of Zalaegerszeg Museums), covering Hager Ritta’s entire creative career—from her earliest years to recent pieces like “Blessing” (Áldás), debuting in Székesfehérvár (Székesfehérvár).
Meet Hager Ritta
Born in Budapest (Budapest) in 1931, Hager Ritta graduated in 1949 from the National Hungarian School of Applied Arts (Magyar Iparművészeti Főiskola) as a textile printer under the guidance of Béla Molnár. She began her career as a costume painter at the Budapest Opera (Magyar Állami Operaház), but only two years later, the communist regime deported her family to Csorvás (Csorvás). After years of hardship, she joined the Community of Textile Artist Designers in 1954, and by 1958, worked for a decade as a designer and implementer at the Industrial Art Company (Iparművészeti Vállalat). Since 1968, she has been living and working as a freelance textile artist.
Hager enjoyed seventy years with her beloved husband, actor András Gelley, until his passing in 2022. She is the mother of two sons, András and Dávid, grandmother to nine, and great-grandmother to fourteen (thus far).
