presents:
Lili Szőke
People, the environment, the inner world Lili Szőke’s painting lies at the intersection of figurative art and contemporary visual culture.
Contemporary painting in the heart of Győr. Lili Szőke’s debut exhibition
15 October – 15 December 2026.
The work of this contemporary artist, who was born in Budapest, centres on the human being: the face, the figure, the individual’s inner world, and the multifaceted connections that bind us to our surroundings and to one another.
At first glance, her paintings offer a powerful visual experience; yet behind their decorative quality lie personal and social issues. In his works, the tools of classical figurative painting meet the freedom of contemporary image-making: geometric patterns, intense colours, abstract surfaces, and occasionally elements of graffiti and street art.
Lili Szőke’s art is at once people-centred, thoughtful and spectacular – which is why it fits particularly well with the aim of Garzon, Plaza, ART & Business and Hotel to ensure that contemporary art is present not only within the walls of a gallery, but as a natural part of everyday life.
Man as the starting point
One of the most important themes in Lili Szőke’s painting is the depiction of human thoughts and often hidden emotions. In her own words, through her figure and portrait paintings she explores the interactions an individual forms with themselves and their environment. Her artistic thinking is influenced not only by the visual arts but also by sociology and social awareness also has a significant influence on it. My Site
The figures in the paintings are therefore not merely subjects of portraits. The colours, textures and patterns that appear around them can become visual representations of a particular personality, state of mind or life situation. Szőke often removes his models from their original surroundings and places them in a new visual world of his own creation.
This idea is particularly well captured in his artistic credo: the environment in which a person lives can significantly shape the course of their life, but by changing that context, the same person can become a character in a completely different story. Kultúra.hu
Classic foundations, a contemporary visual style
Lili Szőke was born in Budapest in 1993. She studied fine art at the Budapest Metropolitan University, Department of Visual Arts, specialising in painting and graphic art He graduated. His tutors included Márton Barabás, József Baksai and Sándor Rácmolnár. In 2023–2024, he also took part in the Budapest Art Mentor programme. My Site
One of the defining characteristics of his artistic language stems precisely from the convergence of different approaches. He has been influenced both by Márton Barabás’s more classical approach to painting and by Sándor Rácmolnár’s more contemporary way of thinking. As a result, his works feature abstract motifs, bold fields of colour and graphic surfaces alongside traditional figurative representation. Kultúra.hu
Barcelona – colours, graffiti and freedom
Barcelona was an important milestone in Lili Szőke’s career. During her extended stay there as part of the Erasmus programme, she worked in a gallery, encountered the international art scene and came into direct contact with the city’s vibrant street art culture. lakastarlat.hu
His time in Barcelona also transformed the visual language of his painting. Alongside his earlier, more subdued colour palette, more vibrant tones, graffiti-style spray paint and layered surfaces began to appear. According to the artist himself, it was in Barcelona that he began to experiment with colour in earnest, whilst the harmony of the composition remained important to him. Kultúra.hu
The imprints of this period are distinct Barcelona Series They also feature in his series, in which he uses mixed media and spray paint alongside oil painting. My Site
Portraits, birds and personal symbols
A recurring motif in Lili Szőke’s works, alongside the human figure, is the bird, particularly the parrot. In some works, the bird appears as a companion; in others, it is portrayed almost as a character in its own right or as a symbolic element.
At the same time, even the smallest details of everyday surroundings can serve as inspiration in his works: the pattern of a pavement, a piece of graffiti, a person waiting, or a fleeting encounter. According to his own artistic philosophy, it is precisely these everyday details that can spark the idea for a painting. My Site
The relationship between the figures and the decorative-geometric background is particularly important: the patterns are not merely decorative elements, but often convey the character of the person depicted and the emotions associated with them. Kultúra.hu
Series – an ever-changing, picturesque world
Lili Szőke’s body of work to date is divided into several distinctive series of paintings.
From Shades His early works in this series include portraits, human figures, birds and still lifes; alongside oil painting, he also uses acrylics, spray paint and mixed media. My Site
A Barcelona Series It draws on experiences in Spain, the urban environment and the visual style of street art. My Site
From Around Me focuses on the people in his immediate surroundings. The 2022 series features oil, acrylic, gold leaf and special three-dimensional canvases. My Site
A Balaton Series It takes a different approach: it depicts lakeshores, sailing boats and details of the Lake Balaton landscape, rendered through the artist’s distinctive visual style. My Site
The 2024 Out of the Box As well as their series of paintings, they are now experimenting with three-dimensional works: alongside oil, acrylic and tempera, ceramic objects have also appeared. My Site
In his latest body of work, the transformation of his painterly language continues: from 2025, the Inside me, and from 2026, the Rush Works with these titles have also been documented. artregister.hu
Hungarian and international presence
Lili Szőke’s career has developed in recent years at venues both in Hungary and abroad. Her works include, amongst others, In Budapest, Szentendre, Szombathely, Barcelona and Genoa have been featured in exhibitions. Among his solo exhibitions are the Shades, the Act Two, the You can tell a bird by its feathers, and a person by their friends, the Around Me, the Echoes from Genoa, the Water’s surface and the Out of the Box exhibitions. My Site
In 2025, among other venues, an event was held at the Pesti Vigadó TOLERANCE LIMIT, and was featured in the Bodó Gallery’s New Contemporary Showroom programme; in 2026, his works were also exhibited at the Káli Fecske Gallery in Salföld. He was represented by K Gallery at the Art and Antique Budapest art fair in 2024, 2025 and 2026. Art & Antique Budapest
Previously, the Museum of Fine Arts „Be part of this beautiful work” was shortlisted for the competition, and in 2018 Best of METU Graduation Award received. In 2023–2024, he received a creative grant from the National Cultural Fund. lakastarlat.hu
Why is Lili Szőke’s exhibition worth a visit?
A good exhibition does not merely show us something; it triggers something within us. A memory, a question, a familiar feeling. Lili Szőke’s paintings invite us to such a personal discovery: she seeks out thoughts, emotions and connections behind human faces and figures. My Site
Because we can recognise ourselves in the pictures
Lili Szőke’s art centres on the human being and their inner world. In her works, she explores hidden emotions and our relationship with ourselves and our surroundings. No prior knowledge of art history is required to engage with these themes: it is enough to recall an encounter, an important relationship or a feeling that is difficult to put into words. Viewing the paintings can thus lead us to reflect on our own stories. My Site
Because the image and the thought are present at the same time
In his paintings, classical depictions of the human figure are combined with abstract patterns, geometric shapes and a varied use of colour. The background and the patterns are not merely decorative: the artist uses them to convey the character of the person depicted and the influence exerted upon them. It is therefore worth taking a closer look after your initial impression, and observing how the visual world constructed around a face alters its meaning. Kultúra.hu
Because nothing can replace the experience of encountering the original work on a screen
A reproduction shows the composition, but it is only in person that we can truly experience the painting’s actual size, surface and spatial presence. It is a different experience to take in the whole picture from a distance and then linger over a detail up close. This exhibition offers an opportunity for this slower, more attentive way of looking.
Because you don’t have to „decipher” art in order to enjoy it
There is no need to seek a single correct interpretation. It is better to pay attention to which picture we pause in front of, which colour or gaze draws our attention back, and why. A visit together can be the start of a good conversation: we may discover something completely different in the very same painting.
