Bela Bacsi

Shell of the Gods: Italian Carrara Marble, Sculpture

2022

Béla Bácsi was born in Gyor, Hungary in 1950. At the age of six, he moved with his family to the United States. Continuing in the family’s profession as stone carvers, presently in its fifth generation, Bácsi took an interest in carving at an early age. Today, Béla Bácsi is recognized as perhaps one of three fine art marble artists in the world. Essentially self-taught, in 1978 Bácsi gained employment at the Studio Ferdinando Palla in Pietrasanta, Italy, where he became an “ornamentista” or fine detail carver. Returning to the U.S. and settling in Cleveland, Ohio, he then worked as an architectural ornamental master designer at Fischer and Jirouch Architectural Ornamentation and as a bronze foundryman at the nationally acclaimed Studio Foundry. Eventually, Bácsi opened his own sculpture studio and now lives and works in Santa Barbara, California. In 1999 Bácsi was awarded both the Gold Medal and Maurice B. Hexter Prize at the National Sculpture Society Members’ Exhibition in New York City. Bácsi has twice received the coveted California Art Club Gold Medal for Best Sculpture, once at the 91st Annual Gold Medal Juried Exhibition in 2001, and again at the 96th Annual Gold Medal Juried Exhibition in 2007, both exhibitions were held at the Pasadena Museum of California Art. Bácsi holds a California Community Colleges teaching certificate for adult education programs and has taught at Santa Barbara City College and currently teaches in the Fine Art Department at California Lutheran University. In addition, he serves as an adviser to the Santa Barbara Museum of Art Docents’ Council. Béla Bácsi is a Professional Sculptor Member of the National Sculpture Society and a Signature Artist Member of the California Art Club.