1932 - 1990 Painter, Set Designer
Biography
László Drégely graduated from the Hungarian College of Applied Arts in 1953. His mentors were Endre Bálint, Jenő Gadányi, and József Litkei. As a painter, he first participated in the National Exhibition in 1957, and his first solo exhibition was held in Budapest in 1962. In 1978, a solo exhibition of his works was organized at the Hungarian National Gallery.
As a set designer, Drégely worked for Hungarian Television from 1958 to 1978 but also designed sets for various theatres in Budapest and films. He also engaged in significant painting and graphic work, creating sovereign compositions and developing a system of symbolic and emblematic objects.
His works are found in numerous private collections and museums both in Hungary and abroad, including Canada, the Netherlands, France, the USA, Germany, Austria, Poland, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland.
Regarding the recurring clock motif in his art, Drégely commented in Eva Körner’s 1972 book entitled ”Drégely”: "In the Middle Ages, a Christian artist painted a crucifix on every picture. It was somehow a symbol of the era. I paint clocks on my pictures because I feel this is the expressive symbol of our fast-paced era. What does the clock mean? Perhaps it represents time that flies, cruel time. A little reminder of passing."
His achievements were recognized with the Balázs Béla Prize in 1972, the title of Merited Artist of Hungary in 1977, and the Budapest Memorial Medal in 1980. After his death, he was declared an honorary member of the Board of the Hungarian Television. His versatile talent also manifested in poetry: he published several children's poetry collections (such as Bűvös zsák (The Magic Sack) and Vár a víz alatt (Castle under the water), some of which were set to music by the Kakaó band. His legacy was devotedly cared for by his wife, the renowned costume designer Éva Witz, until her death in 2012.
Solo Exhibitions
2022
Pintér Auction House, Budapest – Past and Present: Trapped in Time memorial exhibition
2019
B32 Gallery and Cultural Space, Budapest – Dum Spiro Spero – While I Breathe, I Hope exhibition
2010
Vasváry House, Pécs (European Capital of Culture 2010), Hungary
2007
Haas Gallery, Budapest, Hungary
2004
Lincoln Gallery, Budapest, Hungary
2003
Körmendi Gallery, Sopron, Hungary
2002
BÁV RT., Contemporary Gallery, Budapest, Hungary
2001
Vigadó Gallery, Budapest, Hungary
Sziget Gallery, Budapest, Hungary
1998
County Gallery, Budapest, Hungary
1997
Hungarian Aluminum Works, Székesfehérvár, Hungary
1993
Cultural House, Nagykanizsa, Hungary
1992
Cultural House, Pécs, Hungary
1986
István Király Museum, Székesfehérvár, Hungary
1984
Miskolc Gallery, Miskolc, Hungary
1982
Uitz Hall, Dunaújváros, Hungary
1981
Stadthalle, Schwalbach, FRG
Stadthalle, Bad Homburg, FRG
1980
Thomson Gallery, Mississauga, Canada
József Attila Theater, Budapest, Hungary
1979
Hungarian Institute, Prague
KKI Exhibition Hall, Budapest, Hungary
Hungarian House of Culture, Wroclaw, Poland
Hungarian Institute, Warsaw
Cultural House, Kiskunhalas, Hungary
1978
Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest, Hungary
Velencei Gallery, Velence, Hungary
City Exhibition Hall, Kazincbarcika, Hungary
Cultural House, Csákvár, Hungary
Foldes Gallery, Baie d'Urfé, Canada
Mednyánszky Hall, Budapest, Hungary
1977
Cultural House, Dunaújváros, Hungary
Rátkai Márton Club, Budapest, Hungary
Kuny Domokos Museum, Tata, Hungary
1976
Fészek Club, Budapest, Hungary
1975
Gallery Noth, Montreal, Canada
1974
Torhaus, Dortmund, FRG
Charlottenborg, Copenhagen
Hellweg Museum, Unna, FRG
Helikon Gallery, Budapest, Hungary
Kunstforening, Riso, Denmark
1973
Uitz Hall, Dunaújváros, Hungary
Charlottenborg, Copenhagen
Galerie Siau, Amsterdam
Alfermann Gallery, Solingen, FRG
1972
May 1 Cinema, Budapest, Hungary
Galerie RWAG, Dortmund, FRG
Hellweg Museum, Unna, FRG
1971
Galerie de Saxe, Paris
Galerie Eve, La Rochelle, France
Galerie Siau, Amsterdam
1970
Hazafias Népfront Exhibition Hall, Budapest, Hungary
1969
Galerie Siau, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Derkovits Hall, Budapest, Hungary
1968
Galerie L'Orangerie, La Mothe, France
Chateau Larcher, Vienne, France
Académie de Poitiers, France
Galerie Royan, France
Képcsarnok Gallery, Szeged, Hungary
Vígszínház/Comedy Theatre, Budapest, Hungary
1967
Csók Gallery, Budapest, Hungary
1962
Derkovits Hall, Budapest, Hungary
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
King Saint Stephen Museum, Székesfehérvár, Hungary
Hungarian Aluminum Museum, Székesfehérvár, Hungary
Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest, Hungary
Sárospatak Museum, Sárospatak, Hungary
