Csató József
Tent
We are delighted to present the recent works of József Csató in Erika Deák Gallery.
József Csató’s latest paintings invite the viewer into a previously hidden world — one where details and seemingly insignificant moments take center stage. His distinctive visual language now offers a perspective that is at once familiar and intimate, yet new and exciting.
His recent paintings evoke the magical realism of Gabriel García Márquez: elements that initially appear mundane take on surreal, dreamlike forms before our eyes. These ordinary scenes playfully come to life, placing the viewer in a magical world that simultaneously offers comfort and intrigue. This time, the grand narratives are toned down, and we see their fragmented moments come alive — a distant mountain peak, a solitary plant, or the texture of an intimate moment. Csató’s paintings are often framed by curtain-like draperies, richly painted with color and texture, which may allude to the half-open entrance of the tent mentioned in the exhibition’s title, or suggest a circus-like, theatrical setting. These vibrant draperies hint at a secret—something previously hidden that we are now allowed to glimpse in detail.
The mosaic-like works, constructed from fragmented scenes, further reinforce the sense that Csató’s emblematic visual world is in a constant state of transformation and metamorphosis. Their mosaic nature implies that the elements are not permanent but temporary, and our perception must adapt to the possibility of change.
József Csató (born 1980, Mezőkövesd) graduated in 2006 from the painting department of the Hungarian University of Fine Arts. He won the Gyula Derkovits Scholarship for three consecutive years and received the prestigious Esterházy Prize in 2013. He has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions both in Hungary and internationally. This year, he held solo exhibitions in Hong Kong and Los Angeles, and has also exhibited in Berlin, Antwerp, Vienna, and Dallas. His works are featured in major public and private collections, including the Hungarian National Gallery, the Ludwig Museum, and other significant domestic and international collections.
For further information, please contact the gallery.
Opening: 2025. June 4, Wednesday, 6 PM
On view: 2025. June 4 - July 30
Open: Wednesday - Friday, 12:00 - 6:00 PM, and by appointment