Gabor Svagrik was born in Szeged, Hungary. His family immigrated to the United States and settled in Illinois. Svagrik studied at the American Academy of Art in Chicago where he was fortunate to study with nationally recognized watercolorist Irving Shapiro who stressed the importance of composition, design, and drawing.
Svagrik studied life drawing and illustration and joined the Palette & Chisel, where he studied with Scott Burdick. Since moving to Tucson, Arizona he has also taken workshops with Matt Smith, Skip Whitcomb, and Robert Moore. Svagrik devotes several weeks a year to teaching his own workshops at the Tucson Art Academy, which he founded and owns with his wife. He has also taught at the Scottsdale Artists’ School, Lyme Art Association and other schools around the country.
For the past 20 years I have been working hard on my craft. The truth is, “one must learn the craft in order to create art.” This is the philosophy I live by and will continue to do so until I can’t hold the brush. I knew through my passion, patience, persistence, and hard work I would one day have the knowledge to create my vision.
Mother nature is our well for many things. For most true artists it is the place you go to get filled up with inspiration. “Nature is perfection.” I don’t care how many times I stand and look at the same landscape, each time the beauty is there staring back at me differently.
This beauty is what I try to capture on my canvas. It has become my personal artistic journey, and is what differentiates me from other artists. I will forever be humbled and honored to have found my passion in life.
Galleries
Svagrik Fine Art . Tucson, AZ
Rowe Gallery . Sedona, AZ
K. Newby Gallery . Tubac, AZ
Hildt Galleries . Chicago, IL
Villas & Verandas Gallery . San Juan Capistrano, CA
Honors and Awards
Oil Painters of America President's Award of Excellence 2009
Maui Plein-Air Painting Invitational 2008 “Honorable Mention”
The Artist's Magazine 22nd Annual Art Completion 2005 “Landscape Finalist"
Greenhouse Gallery Saloon 2004 “Award of Merit”
Oil Painters of America Show 2004 “Award of Merit”
Pastel Society of America Show 2003
Exhibitions
2012 A Solo Exhibition . April 19 - 21 . Svagrik Fine Art . Tucson, AZ
2012 New Visions - Celebrating the Grand Opening of the New Gallery . Feb 10 - 11 . K Newby Gallery . Tubac, AZ
2011 Through a Painter's Eye . A Solo Exhibition . Scottsdale Exhibition Gallery . Scottsdale, AZ
2011 A Solo Landscape Exhibition . Rowe Gallery . Sedona, AZ
2008 - 2011 Oil Painters of America National & Regional Exhibitions
2008 - 2011 Miniatures Sale and Auction . Collectors Covey Gallery . Dallas, TX
2005 - 2011 California Art Club Gold Medal Show . Pasadena, CA
2004 - 2012 American Miniatures Show . Settlers West Gallery . Tucson, AZ
2010 Bennington Center for the Arts . American Artists Abroad Exhibition . Bennington, VT
2010 National Professional Artists participating in Chilean Earthquake Fund Raiser
2009 The Seasons Through a Painter's Eye . Medicine Man Gallery . Tucson, AZ
2009 Winter Small Works Show and Sale . Medicine Man Gallery . Santa Fe, NM
2009 American Landscape Show . Trailside Galleries . Scottsdale, AZ
2008 Winter Small Works Show and Sale . Medicine Man Gallery . Santa Fe, NM
2008 Trailside Holiday Miniature Show . Trailside Galleries . Scottsdale, AZ
2008 Torrey Pines Plein-Air Invitational . The Lodge at Torrey Pines, CA
2008 Maui Plein-Air Painting Invitational . Maui, HI
2007 Maynard Dixon Country Annual Exhibit . Mt. Carmel, UT
2004 - 2008 Mountain Oyster Club Western Art Show and Sale . Tucson, AZ
1999 - 2005 Oil Painters of America National Exhibit
Affiliations
California Art Club (CAC)
Tucson Art Academy LLC . co-owner
Permanent Collections
Tucson Museum of Art . Art of the American West . Tucson, AZ
Publications
Southwest Art "February Landscape Portfolio & Editorial" February 2012
Western Art Collector "Tucson Art Academy Editorial" January 2010
Southwest Art “The Essential Guide” January 2009
Western Art Collector “Santa Fe Small Works” December 2008
Art Talk “Rising Star” August/Sept 2006
Southwest Art “Going West” September 2005
International Artist Magazine June/July Issue #37 “Placing the Focal Area”
International Artist Magazine Pastel Issue #17 “Landscape Finalist”
Art Talk “Artist Worth Watching” February 2000
Three Books with International Artist Magazine.