Claire Szilard Art

Colorful Italian cityscape which includes elements of both Rome and Milan, noted on the back of the painting. Signed in hebrew. Claire Szilard, a native of Hungary, is an Israeli painter and sculptor, but for the past 10 years she has again been living in Hungary. A short time after she married Pal Fusti in 1944, her sweetheart was conscripted into the work brigade, which engaged mostly in clearing mines. Like many others, Fusti never returned from the war and was declared missing. After she gave up all hope that her husband would return, Szilard immigrated first to Switzerland and several years later, came to Israel. She lived in the artists' village of Ein Hod and later spent many years in the artists' quarter in Old Jaffa. She quickly carved out a respected place for herself among Israeli artists. She was a pioneer in the art of working in glass (vitrage). Over the years, her glasswork has decorated 14 synagogues and a number of public buildings throughout Israel. Her paintings and sculptures have been exhibited in Switzerland, Paris, Rome and London. In 1985, she was chosen painter of the year in Brazil. Szilard lived in Israel for nearly 40 years, during which time she established a studio for herself in Paris as well, married and was widowed. After the change of regime in Hungary in 1990, she showed her works for the first time in Budapest, in the prestigious Vigado Gallery. That particular exhibition had unexpected results. When she was in Budapest she learned by chance that her first husband had not been killed in the war, but had fallen prisoner and had returned to Hungary after a number of years. He looked for his young wife, but didn't find her. He too married and was widowed. Forty years later, they met again. Their feelings for each other were renewed and they decided to join their lives - she at nearly 70, he at nearly 80. Pal Fusti did not feel himself in any condition to begin a new life in Israel, which was an unknown country for him, where he did not know the language and the customs. The couple thus remained in Hungary. Not too long ago, they celebrated in great style - all the "who's who" of the artistic world of the Hungarian capital was there - the 10th anniversary of their renewed meeting, her 80th birthday and his 90th. Studies: Free Academy Budapest; School of Fine Arts, Geneva; Fresco in Ravena, Italy; Prizes: 1969 Nordau Prize; 1984 Silver...