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.
Svagrik’s passion for painting on location has always been an important process for him to capture the balance between mood, color and natural light. He is particularly inspired by pristine locations and the essential truth of nature. He knows he has succeeded when viewers sense the desert heat, the chill in the air, or the mist over an ocean.
Galleries
Sanders Galleries . Tucson, AZ
Karin Newby Gallery . Tubac, AZ
Rowe Gallery . Sedona, 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
2010 Bennington Center for the Arts . American Artists Abroad Exhibition . Bennington, VT
2010 Oil Painters of America 19TH Annual National Juried Exhibition . Scottsdale, AZ
2009 Oil Painters of America 18TH Annual National Juried Exhibition . Santa Fe, NM
2009 The Seasons Through a Painter's Eye . Medicine Man Gallery . Tucson, AZ
2009 3rd Annual Winter Small Works Show and Sale . Medicine Man Gallery . Santa Fe, NM
2009 Miniatures 2009 Sale and Auction . Collectors Covey Gallery . Dallas, TX
2009 American Landscape Show . Trailside Galleries . Scottsdale, AZ
2008 Miniatures 2008 Sale and Auction . Collectors Covey Gallery . Dallas, TX
2008 2nd Annual Winter Small Works Show and Sale . Medicine Man Gallery . Santa Fe, NM
2008 Trailside Galleries 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
2005 - 2010 California Art Club Gold Medal Show 2005 . Pasadena, CA
2004 - 2010 Settlers West American Miniatures Show . Settlers West Gallery . Tucson, AZ
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
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.