Artist of the Month September 2017

Tibor Simon-Mazula

San Francisco, CA

Tibor was born in 1973, raised in Hungary, and completed his BA in Drawing, Visual Art and Mathematics at the University of Szeged, before going on to study filmmaking and cinematography in Budapest, Hungary. In 2010 he went on to San Francisco to earn his MFA in Painting. In the Fall of 2013, Tibor was named ‘Emerging Artist’ at the Academy of Art University and had a triumphant two-month solo exhibition in downtown San Francisco. Since then, the artist have participated in several notable exhibitions across the USA. In 2015, as The Emerging Artist of the Bay Area he exhibited nine paintings in Marin Museum of Contemporary Art. In March 2015, Tibor’s paintings were displayed in White Walls and Shooting Gallery, San Francisco together with contemporary artists such as: M C Escher, world famous Don Ed Hardy, Adam Lister, Eric Kroll and Michael Brennan. He was a winner in the 2015 Bombay Sapphire Artisien Series Competition and was featured at Scope Miami Beach. Recently his art was on display at DAX Gallery together with artists: Keith Haring, Ben Eine, D*Face and Plastic Jesus. Tibor has also exhibited both painting and film at the international level.

How and when did you start creating art?

At a very young age I discovered a natural interest and talent for art and continued to practicing drawing throughout my childhood. At age of 7 I started to draw animals (mostly horses) from life. I saw them on the streets of my hometown.

What media and genres do you work in?

I am interested in people. I represent them with oil on canvas combining figurative and abstract styles in the same picture. During the process I enjoy playing with creating thick texture in different layers. I have explored the versatility of paint and have refined my methods in order to convey my intent. I also use traditional extenders in oil paint such as marble dust and bone ash.

Who or what are your influences?

My paintings are influenced by both European (French - such as Pierre Bonnard,  Édouard Vuillard) and American (Bay Area figurative painters - such as Richard Diebenkorn, David Park and Elmer Bishoff) artists. I also admire contemporary artists such as Anne Gale and Alex Kanevsky.

What was your inspiration for The View?

Real life experience. This painting was inspired by a special intimate moment, when my wife, Diana, was looking out our apartment window in San Francisco.

Describe your creative process?

During the painting process I trust in my actual instincts; it begins with looking for special moment using a camera, I record what I see. When I have a strong reference I do several sketches and value studies. To express my concept I have focused primarily on composition, texture, color and scale. My color palette consists of an assortment of grays which creates a harmonious mood that is subtle rather than aggressive. It is a challenge to create a colorful painting without relying on strong saturation. My paintings are medium to large scale in order to amplify the strength of my statement and create images that draw the viewer into the experience.

What are you working on currently?

Currently I am creating a new series, where I am exploring the relation between a human figure and her interior spaces.

What are your near/long term goals as an artist?

To become more experienced, learn, and create more. And share it with people.

Where can people view/purchase your work (gallery, website, etc)?

My website is  at  www.tiborsimon.com where my exhibitions, gallery representations are listed. For inquiries you can contact at: art@tiborsimon.com as well.