Mihály Buday

Mihály Buday was born in 1953 in the town of Törökbecse, in what was then Yugoslavia. After completing his studies at the teacher training college in Becskerek (Zrenjanin), he moved to Zenta in 1975 and became a founder of the Zenta Art-90 painting group in the early 1980s. In 1994, he and his family relocated to Hungary amid the region’s political upheaval. He became deeply involved in the local arts scene, organizing the Zalaszentgyörgyi International Art Colony since 2006 and serving as artistic director of the Móricz Gallery in Zalaegerszeg. He also taught at local schools until around 2016, nurturing new generations of artists.

Buday’s work blends surrealism, hyperrealism, symbolism, and Art Nouveau, often drawing on biblical stories, mythology, and portraiture—including thoughtful family depictions. He frequently experiments with oil on wood or canvas and includes a symbolic pearl motif in many pieces, reflecting his interest in light and meaning. His paintings have been shown in Hungary, the USA, Germany, Sweden, Austria, and Switzerland. Alongside his creative practice, he continues to organize exhibitions and art colonies, earning local honors such as the “For Zalaegerszeg” award in 2015.