Rudy Hajnal

RUDY HAJNAL

COPPER SMITH

Rudy Hajnal was born in Pécs, Hungary, in 1942 as a last descendent of a titled Hungarian family. He was raised with strict rules and the constant teaching that he must strive for responsibility and excellence in all his endeavors.

He completed his education in Budapest and Szombathely in philosophy and theater directing. He became a popular educator and librarian as well as the art director of one of the biggest art groups in Hungary. In this capacity he was directing new-wave theater, dance shows, art exhibitions, etc. No matter how hard he worked and how successful he was, he had absolutely no job security, and therefore left Hungary in 1971.

He decided to become a gold/silver/copper-smith. Hajnal studied copper art, traditionally known as metal repousse, for five years in Switzerland (Zürich) and Italy (Rome) with Giuliano Battisti who recognized his talent and became his mentor and guide. Giuliano Battisti’s family had a 600 year history in gold and silver smithing work commissioned by nobility and high clergy.

In 1976 he moved to the United States to seek a life of “artistic freedom”. He arrived in Los Angels and in the same year his first exhibition brought him the coveted award of “First in Show” from the city of Beverly Hills Bicentennial Exposition of the Arts. This led to an invitation to exhibit his work in the Museum of Natural History and other Los Angeles shows. He caught the attention of the media and from this beginning his career quickly blossomed. He has become known for the rare combination of large dimension reliefs with extremely fine detailing and finishing effects. His work has won many U.S. awards, including “Best of Show” in the Reno International Arts Festival.

In 1984, during the Olympic Games in Los Angeles a World Festival of Art was held simultaneously, where he was judged one of the best wall-relief artists in the world by the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics fine arts exhibition, representing the U.S. among over 120 countries.

In 1983 at one of his exhibition he met world famous Hungarian surrealist painter, Endre Szász, who asked him to decorate his door with a relief. Since then two lions stay guard at the Szász residence. They became good friends and for five years they worked together, Szász being the designer of Hajnal’s reliefs. Szász had a strong influence on Hajnal’s unique “surrealistic” copper works.

Hajnal is best known for his large wall-murals. He has his artwork in numerous public buildings, hospitals, cultural centers, office buildings, eight museums and many private collections in the U.S. and around the world. Two of his largest murals are installed in California public buildings. An 8 ft. by 16 ft. mural is in the Hall of Justice in San Francisco and an 8 ft. by 18 ft. work is in the University of California at Santa Cruz.

Rudy Hajnal’s artwork is of rarely seen quality of craftsmanship. His mythical beasts, renaissance figures, and surrealist creations are meticulously hammered into reliefs out of the finest quality copper. They are formed from a single sheet of copper and are finished with natural patinas and a protective coating to prevent discoloration and tarnishing. Many of these original art works are further enhanced with Sterling Silver plating, Gold leafing, enamel, pearls and semi-precious stones. These deep bas-relief creations are also filled in the back to protect them from damage.

For many year Rudy Hajnal divided his time between California and Hungary. A few years ago he moved back to his country of birth with his painter wife Valerie, never ceasing to create beautiful copper reliefs. They live an active life in the Hungarian art world, not only creating art, but showing them to the public having frequent exhibitions.

The adventures of an art work.

In 1977 Rudy Hajnal participated in the Northridge

Chamber of Commerce annual sidewalk weekend. His ICON won first prize in the “craft cathegory” (see enclosed Newspaper clipp). The artwork was purchased by a Byzantine Church. Years later it showed up in Green Valley, Arizona and was for sale in Thrift Store. In 2004, Mr. Alex Pavlin purchased it and the icon decorated his home for years. Since 2010 the American Hungarian Museum owns Hajnal’s beautiful art work as Mr. Pavlin redecorated his home and donated the Icon to the museum.