Štefan Hudzík: The Unseen Atelier

The exhibition presents a selection of works by the Spiš-based sculptor on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of his birth. The unorthodox format form in which Hudzík’s works are displayed offers a glimpse into his creative environment – the improvisational “open studio” which the artist left for posterity. The exhibition is presented as part of the Jubilees / Spiš Artists dramaturgical cycle.

The artist’s sculptural work developed and evolved from the realist principles of historical portraits and depictions of family members and friends from his artistic circle. He also addressed religious themes in the form of reliefs, medals and bronze sculptures. The motif of the horse and rider became a regular feature of his work which he explored in various modified forms. His depictions of horses remained a constant throughout his oeuvre; portrayed in different media, the various revisions capture the beauty of unrestrained animal movement.

His sculptures and reliefs explore timeless themes from Christian iconography with a sense of humility and a deep spiritual inspiration (Ss. Cyril and Methodius, the Crucifixion, the Way of the Cross and secular themes with a devotional and thoughtful character). Over time, the realism of his early work gradually gave way to more abstract approaches. His portraits of women are marked by tenderness, graceful forms and elegant lines. In addition to his extensive small-scale sculptural work, his portfolio also features large-scale exterior sculptures for architectural projects.

Eight sculptures and paintings by the artist are found in the collection of the Gallery of Spiš Artists, largely in the form of figural compositions and studies of horses, motifs which were Hudzík’s main artistic interests. His small-scale figural works are represented by four sculptures: a figure of Master Paul of Levoča, a seated female figure and two allegorical figural compositions with floral still lifes. The theme of horses is examined in two tempera compositions and a painted wooden relief. The sculptor’s determined approach, humility and precision are the timeless foundations of the development of Štefana Hudzík’s creative potential, and this essence remains embedded in his own unique personal style.
Mgr. Kamila Paceková, exhibition curator

Author profile
Štefan Hudzík was born in Spišský Štiavnik on 28. 1. 1954. He studied woodworking under Ludwig Korkoš at the Secondary School of Arts and Crafts in Bratislava. From 1974 to 1980 he studied figural sculpture under Ján Kulich at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava and was awarded the Martin Benka Prize in his final year. From 1996 he taught at the Vocational Secondary School of Woodworking in Spišská Nová Ves. He created largescale works for architectural projects in many towns and villages in the Spiš region and also commemorative medals with religious themes. His work is represented in the collections of the Gallery of Spiš Artists, the Slovak National Gallery, the Tatra Gallery in Poprad and the East Slovak Gallery in Košice. He died on April 4. 4. 2017 in Spišský Štiavnik, the town where he had lived and worked.