Imre Varga, a renowned Hungarian sculptor, has created a diverse collection of sculptures throughout his career. From a young age, Imre Varga showed exceptional talent in drawing during his elementary school years in Siófok. At the age of 13, he exhibited one of his paintings in Paris. He completed his secondary education at the Cistercian and Premontrean Gymnasiums in Buda and Szombathely, respectively.
In 1956, Imre Varga graduated from the Hungarian Academy of Fine Arts, studying under Pál Pátzay and Sándor Mikus. He held his first solo exhibition in 1967, and in 1969, he received the prestigious Munkácsy Prize. His 1972 exhibition in Tihany brought him widespread recognition. Imre Varga was awarded the Kossuth Prize in 1973, followed by the title of Meritorious Artist in 1975. He received the Pro Arte award in 1977 for his public artworks in Budapest, the title of Outstanding Artist in 1979, and the Herder Prize in 1982. In 1984, he was honored with the SZOT Prize. Many of his sculptures have been erected in public spaces both in Hungary and abroad, including his recent work in Tel Aviv depicting Raoul Wallenberg.
Imre Varga, the honorary citizen of Siófok, passed away on December 9, 2019. Siófok considers him its own deceased citizen.
Some of Imre Varga's sculptures in Siófok include:
Main Square:
- István Széchenyi
- Umbrellas
- The Birth of Venus
- The Professor
- Francis II Rákóczi
- Memento for the 2nd Hungarian Army
- Béla Czóbel
- La Charogne
- Copernicus (KIKK foyer)
- Imre Madách (KIKK foyer)
Millennium Park:
- Imre Kálmán
- Group of Martyrs (fragment)
Martyrs' Road (next to the Music School):
- Béla Bartók
Jókai Park:
- The Old Krúdy
Upper Balatonszéplak (Végh Ignác Square):
- Mihály Károlyi
Entrance of Krúdy Gyula Vocational School:
- Gyula Krúdy
Szépvölgyi Street Cemetery:
- Golgotha
Hospital Garden:
- Lost Temples
Garden of the Church of Saint Kilian:
- Madonna of Sarlós
Fire Department (Somlay Artúr Street):
- Saint Florian
Photo: Tamás Helényi
