Imre Varga Collection

The Renewed Permanent Exhibition of the Imre Varga Collection

Imre Varga (1923–2019), Kossuth Prize-winning sculptor, would have turned one hundred years old in November 2023. On this occasion, his oeuvre has been reinterpreted, with the aim of presenting selected works from his career from a new perspective: how did a commission, an initial idea, become a masterwork cast in bronze?

By showcasing previously unknown preliminary studies and visual plans from his estate, well-known works are brought into a new light—such as the furnishings of the Hungarian Chapel in the Vatican, the Martyrs’ Memorial in the courtyard of the Dohány Street Synagogue, the Waiting Figures ("Umbrella Bearers") sculpture group in Óbuda, and the Mihály Károlyi Memorial.

Varga’s oeuvre is exceptionally diverse, encompassing not only sculptural works but also drawings and photographs alongside his models. These latter materials offer insight into his creative process, as well as into how his works were installed in public spaces. How did Imre Varga relate to the historical figures or events for which he was commissioned to create sculptures? And to what extent did his personal, subjective perspective manifest in each piece?