Margit Kovács

Margit Kovács (1902–1977) was a Hungarian ceramist and sculptor.

The native form of this personal name is Kovács Margit. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.
Margit Kovács
Born(1902-11-30)November 30, 1902
Győr, Hungary
DiedJune 4, 1977(1977-06-04) (aged 74)
Budapest, Hungary
NationalityHungarian
Known forCeramics
Websitewww.kovacsmargit.com
Plaque at the entrance to the Margit Kovács Museum in Szentendre

Life
Madonna and child in the Castle district, Budapest

Margit Kovács was born into a Jewish Hungarian family [1] in Győr, Hungary on 30 November 1902. She originally wished to become a graphic artist but she grew interested in ceramics in the 1920s and went to study in Vienna with Hertha Bücher, a famous Austrian ceramic artist, from 1926-1928. Then she studied clay modelling in Munich at the State School of Applied Arts under Karl Killer (1928–29). She was a fellow student here, then lifelong friend of Julia Bathory, glass artist. She studied in Copenhagen in 1932 and in 1933 she was at Sèvres Porcelain factory where she mastered the art of modelling with chamotte clay to make figures.

She won international awards in Milan, Paris, Berlin, Brussels and Rome. She was very popular in Hungary and received many public commissions. The Communist regime gave her the Distinguished Artist Award in 1959.

Work

Her first public exhibition was in Budapest in 1928 and from then on her output was prolific and she continued working throughout the Second World War. She produced statuettes, pots, plates, wall plaques and tiled murals.

Her main themes are country folk, family life and bible stories. Her work is very varied but is characterised by flowing lines which curve sensually to evoke sentiment. One of her most significant works of religious art is the portal of the Saint Emeric Church (Szent Imre templom) of Győr (1939–1940).

Several of her ceramic murals are still visible in Budapest and other cities. Those in Budapest at the time of her death were:[2]

Fisher Boy, 1932Ponty utca 14
St. Florian, 1935Fürst Sándor utca 16
The Peacock Alighted, c.1935Vármegye utca 15
Signs of the Zodiac, c.1936Foyer of Kosciuszkó Tádé utca 14
To the Old Post House, 1937Régiposta utca 13
Budapest, Queen of the Danube, 1937IBUSZ, Roosevelt tér 5 (fragment)
Adam and Eve, c.1939-40Vármegye utca 15
Fishing, Hunting, 1942Lobby of Bimbó út 11
The First of May, 1946Ministry of Education
Map of Lake Balaton, 1950Hall of the Déli railway station
Fountain Pool, c.1950Pioneer Store (demolished)
Folk Dance Group Rehearsing, 1952Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Seasons, 1953Budapest Museum of History
The Matyó Family, 1955Museum of Applied Arts
Wine Harvest, 1955Museum of Applied Arts
Games, 1959Ministry of Education
The Meteorologist, 1960National Meteorological Institute
Two Girls Went to Pick Flowers, 1961Museum of Applied Arts
In Remembrance of Things Past, 1961Blood Donor HQ
Into the Woods, 1965Home for Handicapped Children

In 1972 she donated the majority of her work to the Pest County Museums Directorate in Szentendre. A museum of her work was opened in 1973 in Vastagh Street, Szentendre. There is also a collection in Győr.

Death

Kovács died in Budapest on 4 June 1977. Her grave is in Farkasréti Cemetery in Budapest.

  • Old Post Office Building in a Budapest street
    Old Post Office Building in a Budapest street
  • Plaque in Vármegye street, Budapest
    Plaque in Vármegye street, Budapest
  • Ceramic panel at the Bécsi Gate of Buda Castle
    Ceramic panel at the Bécsi Gate of Buda Castle

References
  1. "Margit Kovacs -- the Life of a Hungarian Jewish Artist 1902-1977". 13 December 2018.
  2. Pataky-Brestyánszky
  • Lea Schenk, Margit Kovács Photo Album, Budapest, 2007 ISBN 978-963-00-6484-2 (2001)
  • Ilona Pataky-Brestyánszky, Margit Kovács, Budapest, Corvina/Képzőművészti Kiadó, 1976 ISBN 963 13 2628 4
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