A self-portrait by Gábor Urbán.
At the age of eighteen, Gábor Urbán began his studies in painting at the University of Novi Sad in Serbia. He would also explore the craft under the tutelage of successful painter Árpad G. Balázs. After spending nearly two decades perfecting his surrealist style of painting, Urbán was able to support himself as a freelance artist starting in the early 1980s. In the wake of the ethnic conflicts arising in the region as the Yugoslav Wars were beginning their various decade-long clashes, Urbán would leave Serbia in defiance of the conflicts and unwillingness to participate in it as a soldier.
He would travel to nearby Hungary, though he also spent much of his time away from Serbia on an island located in the Adriatic Sea, Hvar. Living up to his motto, “Not a day without a line,” Urbán would continue to paint, inspired by his stunning surroundings, such as the lavender fields of Hvar and the ocean. Another recurring subject in Urbán’s work are wild horses often painted into phantasmagorical situations, just like the humans who become a part of his swirling, surreal universe. And as I’m on the topic of phantasmagorical situations, Urbán is also known for his apocalyptic visions of what the future may hold for mankind. Using a similar color scheme in each, Urbán would paint 20+ examples of his lush nudes in end-of-times scenarios, including crucifixions, rapture-esque demises including the devil, and warnings about the effects of consumerism on our very souls. While his imagery with these specific works is pulsing with surrealism, Urbán also shows great skill in his ability to capture the essence of the old masters as well as incorporating aspects of Greek mythology into his work.
Now in his early 70s, Urbán has been struggling to complete his “life’s work” due to an undisclosed medical condition. In 2016 an Indiegogo site was launched to help raise funds for the painter to help him finish five to eight paintings. Unfortunately, the page is no longer fundraising, and the rather private Gábor, who splits his time living in Serbia and Hungary, has not provided any updates as to his progress or condition. In light of this revelation, I’m happy to shine a very bright light on Urbán’s darker works in the hope it will create more awareness of this incredibly talented artist. Most, if not all, are NSFW.
Previously on Dangerous Minds:
Dutch master: The grotesque & twisted surrealism of Johfra Bosschart
High Anxiety: The surreal & disturbingly dreamlike paintings of George Tooker
Naughty nuns, Nosferatu and BDSM: Surreal works by the master of ‘anything goes’ Clovis Trouille
The photographs of pioneering Japanese surrealist Kansuke Yamamoto
The surreal X-rated art of Gérard Gachet
Yves Tanguy: The master Surrealist who ate spiders and created smutty sketches just for fun