Master shoemaker László Vass—the creator of the world-famous Vass Shoes—can rightly be called one of the most significant Hungarian art collectors today. His collection, which focuses primarily on constructivist trends, is constantly expanding to include phenomena of constructivist, minimalist, concrete, and conceptual art from the postwar decades, as well as works by world-renowned artists.
Restraint and elegance. Optical illusions and contemplative works. The simple visual expression of geometric systems. The square as the foundation of art.
The latest selection from the Modern Art Gallery—László Vass Collection explores these concepts through the most significant French representatives of constructive, concrete art and abstract, geometric endeavors.
A selection from the French fine art collection of the László Vass Collection.
He purchased the very first pieces of his collection—which currently consists of some 650 works of art—in the 1970s. The collection was first presented at the Csikász Gallery in Veszprém in 1999. It was then that the idea arose to bring a permanent exhibition curated from the collection to Veszprém. The deposit agreement was signed 25 years ago, in 2001, between the city government and László Vass.
The current Modern Art Gallery was created by connecting and merging three buildings. Architect Gábor Turányi and his team, facing a complex and challenging design task, transformed the buildings—which feature varied floor plans and date from different eras—into a gallery space that harmonizes with the historic castle setting and the spirit of the collection of abstract works.
The Vass Collection’s first permanent exhibition opened in June 2003 in the new building in Veszprém. Over the past 23 years, the Modern Art Gallery has hosted numerous exhibitions of international significance, including shows featuring works by Max Bill, Bernar Venet, and Dóra Maurer. Continuing our presentation of international works organized by country, this time we focus on the work of artists associated with France.
Restraint and elegance. Optical illusions and contemplative works. The simple visual expression of geometric systems. The square as the foundation of art.
The latest selection from the Modern Art Gallery – László Vass Collection focuses on the most significant French representatives of constructive, concrete art and abstract, geometric trends, in line with the concepts listed above.
The exhibition features works by Charles Bézie, Gaël Bourmaud, Geniviève Claisse, Daniel de Spirt, Jean Dewasne, Jean-Michel Gasquet, Jean Gorin, Julije Knifer, Henri Prosi, Yves Popet, Aurélie Nemours, François Morellet, Jean-François Dubreuil, Bernar Venet, and Jean Tinguely. The exhibition is complemented by works by Hungarian-born artists who lived in Paris—Vera Molnár, Katalin Hetey, Tamás Konok, Márta Pán—and Victor Vasarely, who was born 120 years ago.
More information is available at this link.
Event photo: Aurélie Nemours, Padova, 1972 / oil on canvas, 50×50 cm
Modern Art Gallery - László Vass Collection
8200 Veszprém, Vár utca 3-7.
