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Charles Roka (1912-1999) | Genre painter

Charles Roka 1912-1999 | Hungarian-born Norwegian painter | Vintage portrait

Charles Roka (Róka Károly) was a Hungarian painter🎨 living in Norway whose name became synonymous with an excess of artistic kitsch.
Roka was born in Hungary in 1912. After he finished his studies on the Academy of Fine Arts in Budapest he went on a European journey. In 1937 he finally settled in Norway, and lived in Bærum, outside Oslo until his death.

Charles Roka 1912-1999 | Hungarian-born Norwegian painter | Vintage portrait

In 1950 he painted his first picture the Gipsy Girl whom he had seen in Marseille a few years earlier. It is Roka's numerous variations of this Gypsy Girl which made his financial success as a painter. His other favourite subjects were Hungarian folklore, especially Gipsy people dancing csárdás and portraits.
Roka had several exhibitions in Madrid, Barcelona, and Lausanne and he was very popular among the average Scandinavian people.
In 1982 illness stopped him working.
In 2003 Haugar Vestfold Kunstmuseum held a summer exhibition under the title Prince of Kitsch displaying about 80 of his works.
It was the first time that a venerable art gallery let Roka's works within its walls.

Charles Roka 1912-1999 | Hungarian-born Norwegian painter | Vintage portrait

Charles Roka 1912-1999 | Hungarian-born Norwegian painter | Vintage portrait

Charles Roka 1912-1999 | Hungarian-born Norwegian painter | Vintage portrait

Charles Roka 1912-1999 | Hungarian-born Norwegian painter | Vintage portrait

Charles Roka 1912-1999 | Hungarian-born Norwegian painter | Vintage portrait
Charles Roka 1912-1999 | Hungarian-born Norwegian painter | Vintage portrait

Charles Roka 1912-1999 | Hungarian-born Norwegian painter | Vintage portrait

Charles Roka 1912-1999 | Hungarian-born Norwegian painter | Vintage portrait

Charles Roka 1912-1999 | Hungarian-born Norwegian painter | Vintage portrait

Charles Roka 1912-1999 | Hungarian-born Norwegian painter | Vintage portrait

Charles Roka 1912-1999 | Hungarian-born Norwegian painter | Vintage portrait

Charles Roka 1912-1999 | Hungarian-born Norwegian painter | Vintage portrait

Charles Roka 1912-1999 | Hungarian-born Norwegian painter | Vintage portrait

Charles Roka 1912-1999 | Hungarian-born Norwegian painter | Vintage portrait

Charles Roka 1912-1999 | Hungarian-born Norwegian painter | Vintage portrait

Charles Roka 1912-1999 | Hungarian-born Norwegian painter | Vintage portrait

Charles Roka 1912-1999 | Hungarian-born Norwegian painter | Vintage portrait

Charles Roka 1912-1999 | Hungarian-born Norwegian painter | Vintage portrait

Charles Roka 1912-1999 | Hungarian-born Norwegian painter | Vintage portrait

Charles Roka (Róka Károly) è stato un pittore Ungherese🎨 residente in Norvegia, il cui nome è legato soprattutto all'eccesso del kitsch artistico. Roka nacque in Ungheria nel 1912.
Dopo aver completato gli studi nell'Accademia dell Belle Arti di Budapest, intraprese un viaggio attraverso tutta l'Europa.
Nel 1937 si stabilì definitivamente in Norvegia, e visse a Bærum (poco fuori Oslo) fino alla morte.
Nel 1939 dipinse la sua prima opera intitolato Gipsy Girl letteralmente: "Gitana", "Vagabonda", la cui ispirazione prese alcuni anni prima a Marsiglia.
Furono le numerose varianti di questa "Gitana" che decretarono il successo economico di Roka, ma la sfortuna come artista (la cui carriera rimase quasi esclusivamente legata a questo dipinto).
Roka venne sempre rifiutato dal mondo dell'arte, e non fu mai amato dalla critica.
Le opere che raffiguravano altri soggetti, come quelle del folklore ungherese, non vennero mai prese in considerazione dai circoli intellettuali europei.
Roka riuscì a fare alcune mostra a Madrid, Barcellona e Losanna, e divenne molto popolare in Scandinavia.
Nel 1982, a causa di una malattia, fu costretto a smettere di dipingere.
Nel 2005, Haugar Vestfold Kunstmuseum concepì una mostra estiva intitolata Prince of Kitsch ("Principe del Kitsch"), esibendo circa 80 dei suoi lavori.
Fu la prima volta che una galleria d'arte venerabile e riconosciuta appese i lavori di Roka ai propri muri.

Charles Roka 1912-1999 | Hungarian-born Norwegian painter | Vintage portrait

Charles Roka 1912-1999 | Hungarian-born Norwegian painter | Vintage portrait

Charles Roka 1912-1999 | Hungarian-born Norwegian painter | Vintage portrait

Charles Roka 1912-1999 | Hungarian-born Norwegian painter | Vintage portrait

Charles Roka 1912-1999 | Hungarian-born Norwegian painter | Vintage portrait