Pál Breznay’s exhibition Hotel, Garzon, Plaza, Business&Art, Hotel
Contemporary painting in the heart of Győr
15 August – 15 September.
Light, Water, Movement – Pál Breznay’s exhibition at Garzonpláza Art
The next exhibition in the Hotel, Garzon, Plaza Business&Art Hotel contemporary art programme Pál Breznay, painter is presenting his works to the public in Győr.
15 August 2026 and 15 September. The exhibition, which is open to the public, takes visitors on a journey into the picturesque world of light, water, nature and movement. Pál Breznay’s works feature spas, watersides, urban spaces, horses and landscapes discovered whilst travelling – not merely as scenes, but as visual narratives interwoven with personal experiences, memories and unique plays of light.
As part of the Garzonpláza’s contemporary art programme, visitors can not only view the works but also, via the Földváry Auction House’s online auction system, 0% can also be purchased via auction, at the current displayed bid price, subject to an auction commission surcharge the works on display.
Art in a lively, bustling space
The Garzonpláza Hotel is not a traditional gallery, but a vibrant, constantly active hotel and community space. The 71-room, four-star hotel is situated in a busy part of Győr, next to Győr Pláza, the county hospital and McDonald’s.
The works on display are therefore not shown in a closed gallery with restricted opening hours, but in an environment where hotel guests, business travellers, local residents, art collectors and art lovers can encounter them on a daily basis.
The exhibition is open every day of the week, 0–24 hours, which can be viewed free of charge.
Pál Breznay – artistic traditions and international studies
Pál Breznay was born in Budapest in 1962 into a family of artists spanning several generations. He began his art studies on the goldsmithing course at the Secondary School of Fine and Applied Arts in Budapest. He subsequently studied painting and mosaics at the Academy of Fine Arts in Ravenna, and between 1986 and 1991 he was a student at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he continued his training in Leonardo Cremonini’s studio.
In Ravenna in 1985, he won first prize in the youth category and a gold medal, and in 1991 his first solo exhibition opened in Paris. His artistic career has remained closely linked to Hungary and France ever since, whilst his works have been exhibited in numerous European countries, as well as in the United States and China.
Pál Breznay’s body of work brings together the Hungarian tradition of painting, his experience of Italian mosaic art, and the perspective of the Parisian art scene. At the same time, his painting is, above all, personal: it draws on his own experiences, his travels, his childhood memories and his direct observation of nature.
The picturesque transformations of light
Light is one of the most important elements in Pál Breznay’s art.
In his early interior paintings, the composition was defined by the geometric – and in places almost symbolic – forms cast by sunlight onto the interior spaces. In his later works, light became increasingly associated with water, movement and the changes in nature.
In his paintings, light does not merely illuminate objects and figures. It dissolves boundaries, transforms colours, sets the surface of the water in motion, and creates new spatial relationships.
In an interview, the artist put it this way: whilst creating, the colours, proportions, shapes, lines, light and space begin to „speak” to him. This way of thinking is clearly evident in his paintings too: the observed reality gradually transforms into an independent pictorial world.
Spas, swimming pools and water features
One of the best-known themes in Pál Breznay’s paintings is the depiction of water and bathing life.
In 1994, the artist returned to one of the defining locations of his childhood, the Lukács Baths in Budapest. The memories evoked there gave rise to a series of paintings spanning several decades. The theme of the bathhouse paintings later expanded to include other spas, swimming pools, lakes, rivers, seas and natural waterfronts.
In Pál Bereznay’s paintings, water is both a tangible and a shifting medium. Light refracts on its surface, forms become uncertain, figures are duplicated, and the colours of the surroundings are constantly rearranging themselves.
The world of swimming pools and spas offers him unique perspectives. He often observes the scenes from above, from a distance, or through unexpected framing. In these moments, the human figures become part of the broader rhythm of the water, the built environment and the light.
His paintings do not simply depict people bathing. They capture the timelessness of summer afternoons, the freedom of floating in the water, the tranquillity of relaxation and the special atmosphere of remembrance.
The immediate presence of nature
Pál Breznay often works outside his studio, directly in front of the scene. He has painted in urban spaces, on bridges, on beaches, at spas, at riding schools and in natural settings.
As a travelling painter, he captured the landscapes of Hungary, France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, the United States and China. A significant proportion of his works were painted from life, which is why his paintings convey not only the outward appearance of a location, but also its light, atmosphere and the mood of the moment.
His relationship with nature is an important part of both his artistic and personal philosophy. As he puts it, we must not dominate nature, but live in harmony with it, protect it and serve it.
In his paintings, this approach is not expressed as a direct message, but rather as a sensitive observation. The ripples on the water, the shadow of a tree, a flash of light in the distance or the movement of an animal can be just as significant as the human figure itself.
Horses – strength, movement and noble elegance
Alongside water, the horse is another defining theme in Pál Breznay’s art.
He painted his equestrian works based, amongst other things, on his first-hand experiences at riding schools in Budapest and Paris, as well as at Kincsem Park. The artist is fascinated not only by the animal’s external form, but also by its movement, strength, sensitivity and the bond it forms with humans.
In 2003, at the Artcheval art fair held in Saumur, France, the Before riding He won first prize in the painting category for his work entitled [title].
In his equestrian compositions, the movement is often in the very process of unfolding. The horse is taking off, turning, breaking into a gallop or pausing for a moment. The painting thus conveys not a frozen moment, but the time both before and after the movement.
Over time, this theme also led the artist towards sculpture. For his first major sculptural work, he studied a live horse so that he could closely observe the animal’s physique, its athletic power and its noble grace.
Painting, sculpture and mosaics
Pál Breznay’s creative thinking is not confined solely to painting.
Ötvös’s studies, his training in mosaic art in Ravenna and his interest in sculpture all contributed to his spatial and material-oriented approach. As well as painting, he creates sculptures, and large-scale mosaic works have also been realised based on his designs.
This multifaceted way of thinking is also evident in his paintings. The figures have a sense of weight and a strong spatial presence; the compositions are structurally defined, whilst the reflections on the water and patches of light often divide the surface into a mosaic-like pattern.
His art is at once visually striking and carefully composed, sensual and intellectual, direct and steeped in memory.
The message of the exhibition
The exhibition on display at the Garzon Plaza invites visitors to pause for a moment and observe the changes taking place in the world around them.
Pál Breznay’s paintings show how an everyday scene is transformed into an artistic experience. A swimmer, a horseman, a lakeside, a shadow or a patch of light on the surface of the pool can serve as a starting point that evokes personal memories and feelings in the viewer.
Her art does not keep the viewer at a distance, but draws them in. Her paintings depict a recognisable world, yet they allow everyone to complement them with their own stories and memories.
The exhibition offers a special experience both for those who have long been interested in contemporary painting and for those who would now like to get closer to the world of art.
Online bidding, supported by Földváry Auction House
The works on display can be viewed not only in the hotel’s communal areas, but are also featured on the Földváry Auction House’s online platform.
Throughout the exhibition, visitors will be able to bid on the works online, subject to an auction commission of 0% – a unique feature in the auction market. Interested parties can therefore place bids on their chosen paintings either after viewing them in person or even remotely.
The system creates a unique link between the physical exhibition and the digital auction. Visitors can experience the size, colours, texture and spatial impact of the artworks in person, and then decide whether to purchase them within an auction environment supported by expert guidance.
VIEW WORKS AVAILABLE FOR ONLINE BIDDING
Why is the exhibition worth a visit?
The Pál Breznay exhibition offers visitors a special opportunity to:
- to discover the works of a Hungarian painter who has enjoyed an international career;
- discover the unique, picturesque depiction of light, water and movement;
- to view the artist’s works on the themes of bathing, the waterside, landscapes and horse riding in person;
- they can visit the exhibition every day of the week, free of charge;
- be able to bid online on the works on display;
- so that they can engage more directly with contemporary Hungarian art;
- to have the opportunity to meet the artist and other art collectors.
Visitor information
Exhibiting artist: Pál Breznay
Exhibition title: Light, water, movement
Duration of the exhibition: 15 August to 15 September 2026
Location: Hotel Garzon Plaza Business&Art Hotel, Győr
Available to view: every day, 0–24 hours
Admission: free of charge
Professional background: Földváry Auction House
The exhibition can be viewed in the hotel’s communal areas. Földváry Auction House provides detailed information regarding the purchase of the artworks and online bidding.
Collectors’ Tea Party with Pál Breznay
During the exhibition, the following will take place: A collectors’ tea party for contemporary art collectors in Western Transdanubia an event entitled [title], featuring the artist currently exhibiting, Pál Breznay, as a guest.
Date of the event: Wednesday 2 September 2026, 5.00 pm
At the event, the artist will speak in person about his artistic career, his studies in Ravenna and Paris, his method of painting from life, and the development of his series on water and horses.
Participants will also gain an insight into how a painting comes into being, from on-site observation and the initial compositional idea right through to the finished work.
During the tea party, you’ll also be able to watch the artist at work!
The tea party offers visitors a unique opportunity not only to view the artworks, but also to hear directly from the artist about their stories, sources of inspiration and the ideas behind them.
The tea party will be streamed live on the hotel’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@hotelgarzonplaza
Registration is required for the event; you can register by clicking on the link below.