The sculptor and Kossuth Prize winner Imre Varga (1923–2019) was one of the most significant, internationally recognized representatives of public sculpture in Hungary. Varga was active in numerous genres of sculpture: political monuments, portraits, genre sculptures as well as medals. The backbone of his oeuvre consists of public political and decorative compositions.
He completed his studies at the Academy of Fine Arts between 1950 and 1956 under Pál Pátzay and Sándor Mikus. During the socialist era, he became one of the most often employed national artists. His style may be defined as decorative modern and postmodern. Varga’s characteristics are an ironic approach and a redefinition of the equipment forming classical monumentalist public sculpture. His figures often appear removed from the stiff pose, in an everyday posture. He often places stage elements and pieces of furniture around the main statue figures, he almost puts then on stage.
About three hundred of his creations were placed on squares, in churches, museums and public buildings in Hungary and abroad. His statues can be seen in Belgium, France, Poland, Germany, Norway, Italy, Serbia and Israel.