These small-sized watercolours are my first impressions of my stay at the National Academy of Arts, Sofia. All of them were made in my studio during my erasmus program, and they picture the atmosphere and life in the atelier. Some of the paintings are more like a mesmeric, fictional image based on the place’s spirit.
Gergő Bánkúti's contemporary magical realism is permeated by references to local characteristics and the persistence of folk beliefs and superstitions. Mysticism, symbolism, and intensely lyrical, metaphorical imagery emerge within a rural environment through personal and familial relationships. Bánkúti explores superstitions, customs, material culture, and religious traditions as well as the collective and personal processes of remembrance. The majority of his works revolve around the legacy of our ancestors. In his most recent works he has placed great emphasis on grief, family memories, inheritance, death and the afterlife.
Studies
2014 – 2019 Hungarian University of Fine Arts, Budapest, Hungary
Painter (MFA)
master: József Gaál, assistant lecturers: Mária Chilf, Ákos Wechter
2018 – 2019 University of Granada - Faculty of Fine Arts, Granada, Spain (exchange)
2017 – 2017 National Academy of Art, Sofia, Bulgaria (exchange)
2011 – 2014 Eszterházy Károly College, Eger, Hungary
Visual Artist (BA)
teachers: Erzsébet F. Balogh, István Erőss, Péter Földi, Tamás Kopasz
2009 – 2011 Jaschik Álmos Art High School, Budapest, Hungary
Decorator and window-dresser (NQR)
2005 – 2009 Madách Imre Gymnasium and Vocational High School, Salgótarján, Hungary
Drawing and painting specialization
2021 – member of artist group mʌtʃ
2024 – member of Artists Association Tirol
Solo exhibitions and performances
2026 ’Rock is my house, green meadow is my blanket’ Bakáts Bunker, Budapest (HU)
2025 ’Three streets, three angels’ Dornyay Béla Museum, Salgótarján [HU]
2023 ’Compagnons’ Galerie Nothburga, Innsbruck (AT)
2022 ’People do strange things’ Moving Gallery, Innsbruck (HU)
2020 ’Tarot’ San Marco Gallery, Budapest (HU)
2019 ’Still missing’ Bitamine Faktoria, Irún (ES)
2018 ’The soil underfoot is enough for me’ Labor Gallery, Budapest (HU)
2017 ’I inherited a pigeon heart’ TELEP Gallery, Budapest (HU)
2014 ’Solo exhibition’ Aba Sámuel Elementary School, Kazár (HU)
2013 ’The face of our house’ County Hall, Salgótarján (HU)
2013 ’Solo exhibition’ Madách Imre Gymnasium, Salgótarján (HU)
Group exhibitions
2026 ’Artist Assembly’ Kunstpavillon, Innsbruck (AT)
2026 ’Pangaea’ Kulturbögen55, Innsbruck (AT)
2026 ’Neues Ungarisch’ Újművészet Szerkesztőség, Budapest (HU)
2025 ’Release Kompost25' St. Bartlmä 3, Innsbruck (AT)
2025 ’Komplizen*schaft' Toni Knapp Haus, Schwaz (AT)
2025 'Wo ist die grüne Maus?' Galerie del Ponte, Innsbruck (AT)
2025 ’Schifohrn, Schnops und Schnaggsln’ Reich für die Insel, Innsbruck (AT)
2024 ’Über-leben’ Galerie dia:log, Kufstein (AT)
2024 ’Anonymous Drawings’ Kunstraum Kreuzberg, Berlin (DE)
2024 ’One swallow does not a summer make‘ Galerie Moto, Hall in Tirol (AT)
2024 ’Let your star shine‘ Hungarian University of Fine Arts (HU)
2024 ’Zur Sache!’ Rotes Haus Meersburg (DE)
2023 ’DERKÓ’ Kunsthalle Budapest (HU)
2023 ’Skinny Dipping’ Weisskirchen an der Traun, Alte Leichenhalle (AT)
2023 ’STROKE Art Fair’ Praterinsel, München (DE)
2023 ’YPE and matS’ Sillgasse 12, Innsbruck (AT)
2022 ’matS’ Galerie dia:log, Kufstein (AT)
2022 ’Power of Less’ Galerie Nothburga, Innsbruck (AT)
2022 ’Wunden und Wunder’ Haus der Begegnung, Innsbruck (AT)
2022 ’DERKÓ’ Kunsthalle Budapest (HU)
2021 ’Art Market Budapest’ MANK, Budapest (HU)
2021 ’IKSIT ’ HDLU Rijeka (HR)
2021 ’Koschatzky Art Award’ Palais Schönborn-Batthyány, Vienna (AT)
2021 ’DERKÓ’ Kunsthalle Budapest (HU)
2020 ’Searching for T-Art 2’ Józsefváros Gallery, Budapest (HU)
2020 ’ IKSIT - international ceramic symposium II.’ Kammerhof Museum, Gmunden (AT)
2020 ’ IKSIT - international ceramic symposium I.’ Folk Art Museum, Innsbruck (AT)
2019 ’IV. National Drawing Triennial’ Dornyay Béla Museum, Salgótarján (HU)
2019 ’66. Autumn exhibition’ Alföld Gallery, Budapest (HU)
2019 ’China and Hungary’ Pintér Gallery, Budapest (HU)
2019 ’Searching for T-Art’ Szent József Ház, Budapest (HU)
2019 ’Terem’ Godot Gallery, Budapest (HU)
2019 ’Water, Air, Earth, Fire’ Dual Art Gallery, Budapest (HU)
2019 ’35. Spring Exhibition’ Dornyay Béla Museum, Salgótarján (HU)
2019 ’I do not trust words’ Trafó House of Contemporary Arts, Budapest (HU)
2019 ’Group exhibition’ - Mission Art Gallery, Budapest (HU)
2018 ’Art Market Budapest’ University of Fine Arts, Budapest (HU)
2018 ’III. National Watercolor Triennal' Kepes Institute, Eger (HU)
2018 ’Transmimesis: Empathy to Ugliness’ Voloshyn Gallery, Kiev (UA)
2018 ’Locus Focus’ Godot Gallery, Budapest (HU)
2018 ’Ari Kupsus Scholarship Exhibition' Ari Kupsus Gallery, Budapest (HU)
2018 ’Goldiloks Zone' Castle Gallery, Veszprém (HU)
2018 ’Amadeus Foundation's Exhibition’ Hungarian University of Fine Arts, Budapest (HU)
2018 ’Ja sam/I am…’ International Exhibition, Decumanus Gallery, Krk (HR)
2018 ’Ludwig Foundation’s Exhibition’ Hungarian University of Fine Arts, Budapest (HU)
2018 ’Výstava Odcizení podle slovníku’ Galerie Emila Filly, Ústí nad Labem (CZ)
2018 ’Silver Javelin’ Sport in the Contemporary Fine Art, Budapest (HU)
2018 ’The Seven Deadly Sins’ IX. Contemporary Iconographic Biennal, Kecskemét (HU)
2018 ’To Death with a Smile’ Poster contest and exhibition - MUMEDI the Mexican Museum of Design, Mexico City (MX)
2017 ’YG’ Art fair and exhibition, Zsilip, Budapest (HU)
2017 ’I came to you because I love you’ Csili Culture Center, Budapest (HU)
2016 ’Aura exotic’ A.P.A. Gallery, Budapest (HU)
2015 ’In/visible’ III. National Drawing and Graphic Biennale, Győr (HU)
2015 ’Trimester, quarter’ Bartók32 Gallery, Budapest (HU)
2015 ’33. Spring Exhibition’ Dornyay Béla Museum, Salgótarján (HU)
2015 ’Csók István’ Hungarian University of Fine Arts - Barcsay hall, Budapest (HU)
2014 ’Everything is in its place’ Kepes György Art Institute, Eger (HU)
2014 ’Írka’ Jurányi Art Incubator House, Budapest (HU)
2014 ’Field of force’ Little Synagogue, Eger (HU)
2014 ’Bukowski in the Süsü’ József Attila Culture Center, Budapest (HU)
2013 ’32. Spring Exhibition’ Dornyay Béla Museum, Salgótarján (HU)
2013 ’Gray-matter’ Student Gallery, Eger (HU)
Awards
2021-2022 ’Derkovits Gyula Scholarship’ Kunsthalle, Budapest (HU)
2019 ’Gruber Béla Award’ Hungarian University of Fine Arts, Budapest (HU)
2018 ’Eszterházy Károly University's Award for Young Artists' III. National Watercolor Triennal' - Kepes Institute, Eger (HU)
2018 ’Ari Kupsus Scholarship' Ari Kupsus Gallery, Budapest (HU)
2018 'Ludwig Grant' Ludwig Foundation (MX)
2018 'Unilever Art Award' National Fine Arts Competition (HU)
2017 ’Silver Easel’ International Student Painting Contest, Ukraine - five awards (UA)
2015 National Art Students' Associations Conference, first award - painting section (HU)
Residencies, symposiums
2024 Godot Art Camp – Mezőszemere (HU)
2023 Alte Leichenhalle Art Residency – Weisskirchen an der Traun (AT)
2022 Power of Less, International Ceramic and Nature Art Symposium - Kufstein (AT)
2020 IKSIT 6th International Ceramic Symposium - Innsbruck (AT)
2020 Bildingship Artist in Residence - Innsbruck (AT)
2019 Bitamine Faktoria Artist in Residence - Irun (ES)
2019 V. International Painting Symposium - Bokros (SK)
2019 II. South Balaton Contemporary Workshop - Szólád (HU)
2018 Artist in Residence - Brovdi Art Foundation, Uzhhorod (UA)
2013 Minimum Party Art Camp, Kászonaltíz (RO)
2013 Nagykáta-Erdőszőlő Art Camp (HU)
Publications
2026 ’Ami elmúlt, soha nem jön vissza már…’ by Fábián Takáts - Országút Cultural Magazine, Budapest (HU)
https://orszagut.com/kepzomuveszet/ami-elmult-soha-nem-jon-vissza-mar-9920
2026 ’Az emlékezet ingamozgása’ by Réka Varga - Prae Art Portal, Budapest (HU)
https://www.prae.hu/article/14867-az-emlekezet-ingamozgasa/
2026 Az elmúlás képei’ by Dénes P. Szabó - Népszava daily press, Budapest (HU)
https://nepszava.hu/3329974_kortars-muveszet-bankuti-gergo-halal-utani-elet-halottkultusz
2025 ’KOMPOST #50’ - Komplex Kultur magazine, Innsbruck (AT)
2025 ’Csontok, töredékek’ by Luca Cserhalmi - Újművészet art magazine, Budapest (HU)
2024 ’Zur Sache!’ Jung und Gegenstaendlich - Exhibition Catalogue Meersburg (DE)
2023 ’Die Forschenden’ Eco.Nova Magazine, Innsbruck (AT)
2020 ’Az élet kártyajáték, csak nem ismerjük a játékszabályokat’ by Gréta Garami - Újművészet art magazine, Budapest (HU)
https://www.ujmuveszet.hu/2020/12/az-elet-kartyajatek-csak-nem-ismerjuk-a-jatekszabalyokat/
2020 ’Sárkányt csiklandozni, anyagot szelídíteni’ illustration and interview by Daniel Veress - Apokrif literature magazine, Budapest (HU)
2020 ’Potato shrines’ by Markéta Kosinová - Swarmmag online magazine (CZ)
https://swarmmag.com/art/potato-shrines/
2018 ’The soil underfoot is enough for me’ by Katalin Nagy T. - Újművészet art magazine Budapest (HU) - http://epa.oszk.hu/03000/03024/00029/pdf/EPA03024_uj_muveszet_2018_07_072-073.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0zYAfoIUyzata9iPai85KtiRXZDUl7EotrHMH2hde4ihSBSio3IQYcYXA
2018 ’Travel and art ('Tarot' series)’ Brovdi Art Foundation, Uzhhorod - https://molbert.brovdi.art/2017-2/en/novyny/podorozh-ta-mistectvo-%D2%91er%D2%91o-bankuti-priyihav-iz-ugorshhini-shhob-poznajomitisya-z-ukrayinoyu-ta-znajti-nathnennya (UA)
2018 ’The Seven Deadly Sins’ Catalogue of the IX. Contemporary Iconographic Biennal, Kecskemét (HU)
2018 ’Ja sam.../I am...’ Exhibition Catalogue - Decumanus Gallery, Krk (HR)
2018 ’Niglo II.’ International Art Review, Strassbourg (FR)
2018 ’Untitled Watercolours’ Matador Review, online literature and art quarterly (US)
2018 ’Silver Javelin’ Hungarian Olympic and Sport Museum, Budapest (HU)
2017 ’Niglo’ International Art Review, Sofia, Bulgaria (BG)
2016 ’Creative of the Week’ Phenomenon online cultural magazine based in Budapest (HU) - https://phenomenon.hu/a-het-kreativja-bankuti-gergo/
2015 Catalogue of the National Art Students' Associations Conference (HU)
Illustration publications
2025 ’Panel magazine’ contemporary arts and literature magazine (cover and illustration) (HU)
2021/22 ’Schilla und Freitag’ - ein bilderbuch mit Redevendungen und Robinson, with ’bilding Kunst- und Architekturschule’ (AT)
2020 ’Alföld’ literature, art and critics magazine (cover and illustration) (HU)
2020 ’Apokrif’ literature magazine (cover, illustration and interview) (HU)
Art education and workshops
2021-present art teacher in Akademisches Gymnasium Innsbruck (AT)
2020-present regular art workshops in ’bilding Kunst-und architekturschule’:
Kleine basis-, Freitags-, and Basiswerkstatt, Fotoworkshop, Sommerakademie, Freestyleworkshop - Innsbruck (AT)
2009–2014 Summer Art camp for children - Bódvalenke, Hungary (HU)