El Kazovsky (July 13, 1948 – July 21, 2008) was a Russian-born Hungarian painter, performer, poet and costume designer; one of the leading Hungarian painters of his time.
Personal life
El Kazovsky was born under the name of Elena Kazovskaya in Leningrad, Russia to Irina Putolova, an art historian, and Yefim Kazovsky, a physicist. He moved to Hungary in 1965, at the age of 15, and graduated in 1977 with a degree in painting from the Hungarian Academy of Fine Arts. El Kazovsky's masters were György Kádár and Ignác Kokas.
El Kazovsky was open about being transgender - born biologically as a female and self-defining as an androphile man.
Art
His art cannot be broken down into periods; all of his expressive paintings reveal the same mythological world that he created. Several recurring figures appear in many of his paintings, such as the long nosed dog or the ballet dancer figure. Besides paintings, his work includes stage designs, performances and installations.
Awards
Kossuth Award (2002) Mihaly Munkacsy Award (1989) Gyula Derkovits Scholarship (1980)
Exhibitions
Solo shows: El Kazovsky: Encore—Várfok Gallery, Budapest, 2016 The State Russian Museum—Marble Palace, St. Petersburg, 2005
Group shows: Mis-en Abyme (Kép a képben)—Várfok Gallery, Budapest, 2008 Hungarian Art. Danubiana—Meulensteen Art Museum, Bratislava, 2007 Re:embrandt—Contemporary Hungarian Artists Respond. Museum of Fine Arts - Budapest, Budapest, 2006 Common Space—Ernst Museum Budapest, Budapest, 2006 In Black and White—Graphic Art exhibition. Műcsarnok / Kunsthalle Budapest, 2001 Millennial serie of exhibitions in the Mucsarnok—Mucsarnok Kunsthalle, Budapest, 2000
Public collections
Hungarian National Gallery (Magyar Nemzeti Galéria), Budapest, Hungary
Ludwig Museum - Museum of Contemporary Art, Budapest, Hungary
Institute of Contemporary Art, Dunaújváros, Hungary
Muzeum Sztuki w Lodz, Lodz, Poland
Books, monographies
Forgacs, Eva: El Kazovszkij (monograph, 1996) Uhl, Gabriella: El Kazovszkij kegyetlen testszínháza (album, 2008)