biography | orsi

"I create scenes with oil or acrylic paint on canvas as my main medium.

I spin a tale: I intersperse, manipulate realistic representations with abstracted layers into metamorphic compositions: facts with veils of expectations and (valid or incorrect) explanations,
not so unlike real life.

To be impulsive when working blurs and obscures some details, emphasises others. I confuse the scene: objects become impressions, almost undecipherable, expressing more of an emotional state than the reality of the reference, offering new interpretations, another point of view."

[ bio ]

A Hungarian born British artist, Orsi's formal education includes a diploma in professional photography, a degree in graphic arts then a master's degree in screen printing (MKE Budapest, 2000).

She spent 10 years living in Romania, Greece and Switzerland, spending time in Egypt - working at an excavation -, before settling down in the UK in 2010, juggling family-life and her artistic practice until very recently.

Orsi has been active in creating art since she left university, developing a compelling collection of works over the past 25 years.

She is inspired by the visual legacy of the Avantgarde: works heavily laden with symbolism, irony and drama. Orsi’s analytic paintings with dream-like figuralism and shifted dimensions are directing the attention to different interpretations of the mundane. During her university years she turned away from a monochromatic practice, later choosing painting as her preferred medium. Although she would not call herself a painter, but someone who uses paint to express herself the most suitable way. As she has never been able to abandon her earlier interest in a more graphical approach, line drawing still has an important role in her work. However, if the theme demands it, she does not shy away from using different approaches and media.

Orsi's works can be found in public collections in Hungary, and in private collections in Germany, Hungary, Hong Kong/China, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and the UK.

Her paintings are available in the £1000 - £7000 price range.

Enquiries for specific prices and/or a catalogue are welcome.

affiliation | education

2017-2023 Member of the Fountain Gallery Artist cooperative, East Molesey

2015-2019 Society of Women Artists' Council member

2015-2024 Full membership of the Society of Women Artists (SWA)

2014-2015 Associate member of SWA

1999-2019 Member of the Association of Hungarian Creative Artists (MAOE)

1998-2000 University of Fine Arts (MKE), Budapest – Hu | MA

(specialized in screen-printing)

1993-1998 University of Fine Arts, Budapest – Hu | BA (degree in Graphic Arts)

1992-1993 Photography School, Budapest

(Budapesti Komplex SzC Kézművesipari Technikum) – Hungary

1991-1993 Student of Benedek György sculptor (Merited Artist of Hungary)

awards I scholarships

2018 The Columbia Threadneedle Prize selected exhibitor | Mall Galleries, L'don

2013 ‘Body of Work’ Award | 152nd Annual Exhibition of SWA, Mall Galleries

1999 First prize of the National Screen-Prints Competition | Ministry of Public Education of Hungary and University of Fine Arts

1998 Scholarship in Rome, at the Hungarian Institute in Rome, Italy

1996 Art Course in Delphi, Greece - University of Fine Arts, Athens

[ exhibitions ]

solo exhibitions

2022 7-19 June | Homo Homini Lupus @ the Fountain Gallery, East Molesey
2021 2-14 Feb | Orsi: Works on Paper @ the Fountain Gallery (lockdown)
2020 9-21 June | Correlation (guest exhibitor: Sándor Pellet painter, Hungary) @ the Fountain Gallery (lockdown)
2019 14-26 May | Solo Show @ the Fountain Gallery
2018 12-24 June | Shared (guest exhibitor: Hazel Reeves, sculptor) @ the Fountain Gallery
2017 27 June-9 July | 'Reminiscence' solo exhibition @ the Fountain Gallery
2015 7-17 Dec | 'A Conjured Up World' solo exhibition @ the Fountain Gallery, East Molesey
2015 23 Feb - 15 Jan | 'Interlude' Featured Artist's Show @ Skylark Galleries
2014 30 Aug - 22 Nov | 'From the Other Side' @ Riverside Gallery, Richmond (London)
2014 12 March - 11 April | "Albion Saluted" solo exhibition at the Hungarian Cultural Centre - Balassi Institute, London
2009 | Orsi Cowell-Lehoczky solo @ Doris Neukomm Galerie, Rehalp - Zurich, Switzerland
2009 | Cowell-Lehoczky and Pellet @ Gallery “Testvérmúzsák” - Pomáz, Hungary
2008 | a solo show @ "1. Schweizer Ungarnhausfest" Gemeinschaftszentrum Buchegg, Zurich, Switzerland
1997 | ‘BUSZE’: Yearly Medical Conference in Budapest - Hungary (invitational solo)

group exhibitions curated by the artist

2021 14-26 Sept | Adaptation - group show with Suzy Abrahams, Wilf Frost,
Dani Humberstone, Vivien Phelan, Heather Tobias, and Ann Marie Whaley @ the Lightbox Gallery, Woking
2020 Dec - May '21 | Fountain at 20 - group show, Orleans House Galleries, The Stables, Twickenham (London)
2019 25 Nov-8 Dec | Group Show @ the Fountain Gallery
2018 5 June – 1 July | group exhibition at the Lightbox, Woking
2018 25 Jan - 8 April | Water Water... @ The Stables Gallery, Twickenham

group exhibitions | art fairs | open-call shows

2023 | Society of Women Artists’ 162th Annual @ Mall Galleries, London
2022 | SWA 161th Annual Exhibition @ Mall Galleries, London
2021 May - July | Hampton Court Palace Golf Club
2019 23-29 Sept | SWA 158th Annual Exhibition @ Mall Galleries, London
(co-curated)
2018 25-30 Sept | SWA 157th Annual Exhibition @ Mall Galleries, London (co-curated)
2018 14-16 Sept | ‘Spot the Artist' September Festival St Ives @ Porthmeor Studios, St Ives, UK
2018 31 Jan - 17 Feb | The Columbia Threadneedle Prize @ Mall Galleries, London
2017 | ‘Spot the Artist' September Festival, St Ives @ Porthmeor Studios, St Ives, UK
2017 19 July - 13 Aug | Elmbridge, Moving Art Exhibition @ Riverhouse Barn Art Centre, Walton-on-Thames
2017 4-9 July | Society of Women Artists' 156th Annual Exhibition at the Mall Galleries, London (co-curated)
2016 28 July - 7 Aug | Society of Women Artists' 155th Annual Exhibition at the Mall Galleries, London (also co-curated)
2015 20 Jan - 20 Feb | 'Kiss' @ Gallery Different, London
2014 Dec- 2015 Jan | 'Christmas Collective' @ Gallery Different, London
2014 23-26 Oct | Affordable Art Fair Battersea, London (Go Figurative)
2014 5-20 Sept | 'The Society of Women Artists' Curator's Pick' @ Gallery Different, London
2014 26 June - 5 July | Society of Women Artists' 153rd Annual Exhibition at the Mall Galleries, London
2013-2015 | Permanent display at the Skylark Galleries, Oxo Tower, London
2013 27 June - 6 July | SWA 152nd Annual Exhibition @ the Mall Galleries, London (Winner of the 'for body of work' award)
2013 March | Affordable Art Fair Battersea, London (Skylark Galleries)
2012 December | 'Eastern Chics' Go Figurative, London
2012 November - March 2013 | 'Outlands' The Architect's Gallery, London
2009 | Art Show Zurich, Switzerland
2001 | ’Electrographic’ Biennale (International open call) by Ágnes Haász @ Gallery Vigadó | Budapest, Hungary
2000 | ’Miskolci Grafikai Biennálé’ Graphic Biennale of Miskolc city, Hungary
1998 | Hotel Aquincum Gallery | Budapest, Hungary
1998 | ’46. Vásárhelyi Őszi Tárlat’ 46th (National) Autumn exhibition Vásárhely, Hungary
1997 | Budafok Culture Centre | Budapest, Hungary
1996 | Tető Gallery | Budapest, Hungary
1993 | Young Talents: Students of György Benedek @ Budafok Culture Centre
1993 @ The Culture Centre of the Capital, to honour György Benedek (Merited Artist of Hungary) as Master, Budapest - Hungary

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