Claire Szilard

Claire Szilard, a native of Hungary, is an Israeli painter and sculptor, but for the past 10 years she has again been living in Hungary. A short time after she married Pal Fusti in 1944, her sweetheart was conscripted into the work brigade, which engaged mostly in clearing mines. Like many others, Fusti never returned from the war and was declared missing. After she gave up all hope that her husband would return, Szilard immigrated first to Switzerland and several years later, came to Israel. She lived in the artists' village of Ein Hod and later spent many years in the artists' quarter in Old Jaffa. She quickly carved out a respected place for herself among Israeli artists. She was a pioneer in the art of working in glass (vitrage). Over the years, her glasswork has decorated 14 synagogues and a number of public buildings throughout Israel. Her paintings and sculptures have been exhibited in Switzerland, Paris, Rome and London. In 1985, she was chosen painter of the year in Brazil.