Attila Richard Lukacs

Born in 1962, Canadian artist Atilla Lukacs is known for using his artworks to speak to history in a way that is thoroughly grounded in modern sensibilities. A graduate of Emily Carr Lukacs found inspiration living and working both in Berlin and New York before returning to Canada in 2003.

Throughout his career Lukacs has become a master of making reference to western historical painting while employing other languages found in visual culture, especially evident in his early work where old masters such as Caravaggio and Rembrandt can be felt. Lukacs will often unpack masculine tropes of the fetishized body, the visualized body and the militarized body, allowing the juxtaposition of classical structures and techniques to be “queered”.

Lukacs paintings often embody the layered effect of words, phrases, signage, and symbols to create multiple layers of meaning. The Monkey for example, can be interpreted to read as the surrogate for the self or for other forms of masculinity that play throughout his body of work.

Lukacs has been quoted as saying that “I think it’s the body of work that speaks…” referencing the works ability to incite intrigue and commentary on both technical and societal levels. Lukacs continues to work at an east side studio in Vancouver, BC.