From Folk to Form: Wire sculptures by Y. Suzanne Ócsai

From Folk to Form

Wire Sculptures by Y. Suzanne Ócsai

(viewable appointment, or before/during scheduled events).

Stay tuned for open exhibition viewing dates/times this Fall.

We are invited to step into Suzanne's identity as a Hungarian American, expressing herself as a first-generation, third-culture kid raised in the rural South, largely disconnected from her ethnic background.

Her pieces depict common Hungarian folk-art motifs, such as Kalocsa, Matyó, famous Hungarian figures, landmarks, and aspects from her personal life. Using wire as the primary medium, she was able to break subject matters down to their simplest form while still presenting them as complex and delicate, not unlike the multi-ethnic experience of being caught between multiple lands, languages, and cultures.

This collection of wire sculptures explores Hungarian heritage through Suzanne's search for a deeper connection to the land of her ancestors.

About the artist: Y. Suzanne Ócsai

Y. Suzanne Ócsai received her B.A. in Art from Southern Adventist University and her M.F.A. from Queens University of Charlotte. She is a multi-disciplinary artist working primarily as a graphic designer and wire sculptor while dabbling in acrylic, watercolor, pen and marker illustration, and photography. Her primary focus is on creating art that depicts Magyar (Hungarian) folk designs. Ócsai lives in Lincoln, Nebraska where she is a professor teaching art and graphic design courses at Union Adventist University. She is also an associate artist at The Burkholder Project where her work is on display.

From Folk to Form: Artist Explores Heritage Through Sculpture - Spectrum Magazine

ABOUT: AFHLE, Hungarian House, now celebrating its 60th year of operation, offers cultural programming and community activities that build the American Hungarian community and its local Yorkville neighborhood in NYC. As a non-governmental and non-denominational cultural center in NYC since 1966, the community center has served children, adults, and seniors and as an educational resource for those of Hungarian descent to learn and stay in touch with their customs, traditions and cultural heritage. As a bridge to our American community, many offered programs are in both English and Hungarian and include Hungarian music, history, literature, science, film, theater, language, youth leadership/scouting, dance, and seasonal heritage activities. For newly immigrated Hungarians becoming accustomed to American society, we serve as a springboard to integration while providing services that facilitate staying in touch and celebrating Hungarian and Hungarian-American ancestry.