Artportal.hu

(1944., Ukraine – )

József Balogh is a gypsy painter from Ukraine. The master of church-painting and renovating was born in 1944. Nowadays he lives and paints in Munkács. His mother tongue and culture are of Hungarian origin, but he takes an active part in the gypsy cultural life of Munkács. His style of painting follows Szerov’s footsteps: castles with forests, churches, and visionary pictures reflecting on the hard days of ukrainians. Balogh’s housing estate series is his symbol for the world of Munkács that is falling apart: shadow of disintegrating panel constructions reflecting in a lake, a little house, a small garden and the landscape measurable with human scales.

In Hungary he had two exhibitions, first at the Rabindranath Tagore School in Ózd, and then at the Lounge Gallery of the Hungarian Roma Parliament where he exhibited his life-work. Later this has become a permanent exhibition.

Works in public collections

• Lounge Gallery of the Hungarian Roma Parliament.