LOCAL Kew sculptor, Michael Meszaros, began making portrait medals at the age of 13 under the influence of his father Andor, also a professional sculptor. He continued making portrait medals while at school and at university while studying architecture.
In 1969, after finishing his architecture course he was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to study medallic sculpture at La Scuola Dell’Arte della Medaglia (School of the Art of the Medal) in the Mint of Rome. Since his return from Rome in early 1970, he has lived as a full-time sculptor producing hundreds of medals, 38 major public and private commissioned sculptures, reliefs, portrait heads, and a large body of exhibition sculpture.
Michael works in a wide variety of styles, scales and techniques. He says that the discipline of medallic sculpture has influenced his approach to all his work, encouraging a conciseness and economy of expression and design. Michael has won a number of prizes in Australian and international competitions and has works in many local and international collections, including the British Museum. He has a number of major works in the US, Belgium, Japan and Papua New Guinea. He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2012, has been President of the Association of Sculptors of Victoria 11 times and Delegate for the International Art Medal Federation (FIDEM) since 1972.
Michael’s vast body of works is being celebrated at the Hawthorn Arts Centre. Titled 50 Years as a Sculptor the exhibition celebrates Michael’s work as full-time artist.
Venue: Hawthorn Arts Centre, 360 Burwood Road, Hawthorn. Ph. 9278 4770
When: CHECK FOR DETAILS OR FOR POSSIBLE ONLINE EXHIBITION.
