We are thrilled to introduce Borbala Eszteri, the newest artist to join LCA. Born in Pécs, Hungary in the early 1990’s, Eszteri attended the Forrai Art School in Budapest where she studied Fashion and Design. After graduation, Eszteri moved to Basel, Switzerland, where she currently resides. She is most known for her loosely abstracted figurative works, which include the use of oil paint, oil pastels, acrylic, watercolor, and ink. The combination of mediums allows Eszteri to experiment with intense and highly customized colors and effects, bringing to life her personal experiences and sentiments. To give you a bit of background on her work and her process, we spoke with Eszteri, who elaborated on some of the themes present in her work.

What inspires you on a day to day basis?

Everyday life. I try to let each day bring what it will and to let things come to me in an organic way. I’m constantly seeking new realities and learning from others, which can only be done with an open mind. This includes the acceptance of sad feelings and hard times as much as the good times. In everything I create, I try to find the balance within myself and to translate that onto a canvas.

Can you describe the process of creating your work?

I start with an idea of a pose, and/or the background colors. I rarely prepare an organized sketch before painting as I prefer to work intuitively. With a loose idea in mind, I sketch the pose and then prepare the base color for the background. Faces are always the last detail I complete, though I do continue to tweak the color palette until I get the feeling that all the elements of the work are in harmony. I listen to music as I work as it helps me to not overthink during the process.

How do you think your background in fashion informs your artwork?

I love fashion and have always enjoyed watching people on the street to see how they dress, how they style their hair, and how their personality comes through with what they are wearing. In fashion school, I had to do a lot of model sketches, which eventually led me on the path to my art career. In both art and fashion, the harmony of colors, lines, and textures is incredibly important. My drawings of women became more abstracted over time, with elongated bodies and disparate elements.

Are the figures in your work inspired by other people, or by yourself?

I have tried working from photographs I took of real people, but I ultimately felt like something was missing. Ironically, my paintings feel more authentic when I work from my imagination. However, sometimes I do take a photo of myself in a specific pose to take inspiration from.

What do you do when you’re not creating art?

Before the pandemic, I was working full-time, balancing the travel that was required of my job as well as creating art. However, with offices closed, I have had more time in the past year to develop ideas and focus on my artwork. I am also reading a lot about psychology and medicine at the moment as well as practicing yoga, going on walks and enjoying spending time in nature. There is so much to do, I am never bored.  

Name some artists who inspire you.

My favorite artist at the moment is Alina Zamanova. Also Jenny Savillle, Austyn Weiner, and I like the works of Simon Buret.

If you could have dinner with one thinker, alive or dead, who would it be?

I would say the Buddha. Even though I don’t consider myself to be Buddhist or even religious, the philosophy behind Buddhism resonates with me. I strive to live by similar principles.

Main image courtesy of the artist, taken by Egle Eglaite