Magyar
ZOLTÁN VÉN
GRAPHIC ARTIST
ZOLTÁN VÉN, graphic artist, was born in Pesterzsébet, Hungary, in 1941. After finishing his schooling, he worked at the Department of Treasury as a designer. After that, leading the workshops of the state run Puppet Theater for five years, he dedicated himself exclusively to the graphic arts. He is known as an Exlibris artist all over Europe.
In 1976 he made his first intaglio printing for the public. He received his first award for small graphic art in 1976. Since then he received 15 diverse awards at competitions in various European countries. His name is included in the fifth volume of “The Ex-Libris Artists” published by the International Federation of Societies of Exlibris. The volume contains 6 original engravings by Zoltán Vén.
By 1992, the artist had around 300 pieces of small graphic art works. 80% are copper engravings (C2), the rest are etchings (C3), aquatint (C5), soft-ground etchings (C6) or lino cuts (X3). Famous collectors from almost every European country commission his plates. Zoltán Vén can be called the most successful ambassador of Hungarian exlibris art with good reason.
The topics of his small graphic art plates are varied and often humorous. His work represents every aspect of European culture, Hungarian history, mythology and folklore, also good and bad human traits – sometimes in a mocking fashion. He also illustrates significant events of our age in an individual way.
The American Hungarian Museum is deeply grateful to Dr. Miklós Lippóczy, a great collector and propagator of Hungarian culture and art, for making an exhibit of Zoltán Vén’s art possible. Dr. Lippóczy’s collection of over thirty thousand pieces of bookplates includes several art works made for him by Zoltán Vén.
His work shows a completely individualistic style in the area of the small graphic art. His plates do not resemble each other. Vén does not repeat himself. His works are greatly regarded by collectors and we admire his art with awe.
American Hungarian Museum, No. 9, 1992
