Anikó Koltai

A Swiss-Hungarian artist based in Switzerland. Born in Hungary, I started painting as a child and always felt a strong connection to art. After school I worked in tourism for many years. This job allowed me to travel a lot, experience different cultures, and see the world from many perspectives. In my early thirties I moved to Switzerland, where I continued working in tourism. After some time, I realised I needed to follow my real passion. I left my previous career, began studying art, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Lucerne (HSLU). Art has since become the centre of my life.

Artist Statement

My artistic exploration delves into the ephemeral nature of existence through the use of transparent materials as conduits for imagery and the embrace of installative painting. This fascination is rooted deeply in the human psyche—our attitudes towards life and the foundational values that guide us. I intertwine these introspections with the philosophical underpinnings of various religious ideologies, with a particular focus on Tibetan Buddhism in recent years. This choice of medium and theme is a deliberate reflection on the transient essence of our world; through transparency, I aim to illustrate the impermanence that defines everything around us. The mutable nature of these works invites a continual reevaluation of perception, as the interplay of light and environment breathes life into each piece, ensuring that no single viewing is the same as another. This dynamic interaction further extends to the careful positioning of each piece within a space, a process that not only highlights the inherent transparency but also integrates the viewer and their surroundings into the artwork, thus granting it an inherently installative quality. My work is an invitation to perceive beyond the surface, to engage with the layers of meaning and change that transparency unveils, opening new pathways in the realm of painting where viewer, space, and artwork converge in a constantly evolving dialogue.