I emphasize subjects that deal with life and life's experiences.
I use the shape of my pieces to create the inner feelings of the human being.
In addition, I feel that "art for art's sake" is not enough.
I want to create sculptures that both express and evoke human emotion.
As a Holocaust survivor, I believe that my life was spared to do my work so people may enjoy it.
Whether it is one of my Holocaust sculptures, a biblical figure, or a woman standing proud and tall,
the human aspect of the piece is what is being expressed to the viewer- that there is beauty and value to be found in all our lives,
for I truly believe that life is a celebration.
~ Alfred Tibor
~ Alfred Tibor
Alfred Tibor is a survivor who has found meaning in his survival by designing memorials to the Holocaust. Tibor believes that his works are his destiny, that he survived in order to design these memorials.
Tibor was born in Konyar, Hungary, in 1920. He tried to escape Eastern Europe early, but his desire to come to the New York World's Fair in 1936 was thwarted. A talented gymnast, he could not compete as a member of the Hungarian team in the 1936 Berlin Olympics and so became an acrobatic entertainer in an unsuccessful attempt to come to this country. He studied art and architecture in Budapest, and at twenty was drafted into a forced German labor battalion on the eastern front. After two and a half years, he was captured by the Russians and spent five years in a prisoner-of-war camp in Siberia. While in Siberia, he was one of two survivors from a group of 273 men. Tibor was not freed from Siberia until 1947.
When he returned to Budapest in 1947, Tibor found that he and one brother were the only survivors; he had lost all of his family- almost forty relatives- either by execution or at Auschwitz. He credits his survival to "luck and determination". Tibor added a personal story that relates to the identification of survivors with the dead: "When I am coming home to Hungary...I discovered I had lost everybody except one brother. My name was Alfred Goldstein. My older brother, Tibor, was executed in a camp. My brother Andre and I, we changed our names to Tibor in his memory."
When Tibor returned to Budapest, he worked for nine years as an exhibition designer for the government, designing displays for buildings and interiors for trade shows. During this period he studied art and architecture in the evenings. In 1956, two months after the October Revolution, he and his family fled Hungary. Tibor saw in the uprising anti-Semetic feelings that he wanted his family to escape: "With my wife, my brother carrying my little baby and with my son on my back, we crossed the border at 2 a.m. with the searching lights going around and the baby drugged to keep her from crying."
They sneaked through the Russian-occupied border into Austria and later arrived in the United States in 1957. At that time Tibor spoke no English and was unclear about what he would do. He worked as a commercial artist in Miami and kept two-to-three other jobs while going to school and studying English to keep his family afloat. All of these years there was "no time for leisure and no time for sculpture." All of his effort went into gaining some sense of security. Finally, in 1972, Tibor moved to Columbus, Ohio, as head of the art department for a large retail company. Since then he has had time and security to execute his artwork.
Reprinted from "A Mission in Art, Recent Holocaust Works in America", Vivian Alpert Thompson, Mercer University Press, Macon, Georgia, 1988.
Tibor was born in Konyar, Hungary, in 1920. He tried to escape Eastern Europe early, but his desire to come to the New York World's Fair in 1936 was thwarted. A talented gymnast, he could not compete as a member of the Hungarian team in the 1936 Berlin Olympics and so became an acrobatic entertainer in an unsuccessful attempt to come to this country. He studied art and architecture in Budapest, and at twenty was drafted into a forced German labor battalion on the eastern front. After two and a half years, he was captured by the Russians and spent five years in a prisoner-of-war camp in Siberia. While in Siberia, he was one of two survivors from a group of 273 men. Tibor was not freed from Siberia until 1947.
When he returned to Budapest in 1947, Tibor found that he and one brother were the only survivors; he had lost all of his family- almost forty relatives- either by execution or at Auschwitz. He credits his survival to "luck and determination". Tibor added a personal story that relates to the identification of survivors with the dead: "When I am coming home to Hungary...I discovered I had lost everybody except one brother. My name was Alfred Goldstein. My older brother, Tibor, was executed in a camp. My brother Andre and I, we changed our names to Tibor in his memory."
When Tibor returned to Budapest, he worked for nine years as an exhibition designer for the government, designing displays for buildings and interiors for trade shows. During this period he studied art and architecture in the evenings. In 1956, two months after the October Revolution, he and his family fled Hungary. Tibor saw in the uprising anti-Semetic feelings that he wanted his family to escape: "With my wife, my brother carrying my little baby and with my son on my back, we crossed the border at 2 a.m. with the searching lights going around and the baby drugged to keep her from crying."
They sneaked through the Russian-occupied border into Austria and later arrived in the United States in 1957. At that time Tibor spoke no English and was unclear about what he would do. He worked as a commercial artist in Miami and kept two-to-three other jobs while going to school and studying English to keep his family afloat. All of these years there was "no time for leisure and no time for sculpture." All of his effort went into gaining some sense of security. Finally, in 1972, Tibor moved to Columbus, Ohio, as head of the art department for a large retail company. Since then he has had time and security to execute his artwork.
Reprinted from "A Mission in Art, Recent Holocaust Works in America", Vivian Alpert Thompson, Mercer University Press, Macon, Georgia, 1988.
The following is a list of exhibitions which displayed works by Alfred Tibor:
- Columbus Art League Member's Show 1975-78
- Liturgical Art League Show 1977-92
- Cincinnati Jewish Center- One Man Show 1978
- Leo Yassenoff Jewish Center- One Man Show 1978
- Detroit Jewish Center- One Man Show 1979, 1983-84
- Baltimore- One Man Show 1980
- Columbus Art Center- One Man Show 1980
- The Children's Museum- Indianapolis, IN 1981
- The Nationwide Gallery- Columbus 1981
- Columbus Art Museum Collector's Gallery 1982-83 1986, 1989
- Gallery 200- Columbus 1982, 1984, 1989, 1991
- Holocaust Gathering- Washington D.C. 1982
- The Agnon Art Show- Cleveland, Ohio 1982, 1985, 1988-89, 1993
- Columbus Public Library- Main Branch 1983
- Greater Columbus Arts Council 1983
- Judaica Art Exhibit- New York 1983
- Worthington Public Library 1983
- Columbus Art Center 1984
- Traveling Liturgical Art Show 1984, 1986
- Heritage House Spring Show- Best of Show Award 1985
- Holocaust Memorial Show- Philadelphia 1985
- Pontifical College Josephinum- Worthington, Ohio 1985
- Schumacher Gallery- One Man Show 1985, 1995
- Heritage House Spring Show 1986, 1988
- Barry University- Miami- One Man Show 1986
- Lowe-Lewison Art Gallery- Miami Beach 1987
- Garret Gallery- Lancaster, Ohio- One Man Show 1988
- J.C.C. Gallery of Cleveland 1988
- Liturgical Art Show- Delaware, Ohio 1989
- Temple B'nai Israel- Clearwater, Florida- One Man Show 1989
- Methodist Theological School- Delaware, Ohio 1990
- Wittenberg College- Springfield, Ohio 1993
- Vetro Marmo Arte Gallery- Gahanna, Ohio 1993
- Schumacher Gallery Capital University 1995
- Witness & Legacy, Columbus Museum of Art 1995
- Xavier University Cincinnati- One Man Show 1996
- Worthington Green Outdoor Exhibit 1996
- Trinity Lutheran Seminary- One Man Show 1997
- Columbus Cultural Art Center- One Man Show 1998
Alfred Tibor
Born in Konyar, Hungary in 1920, Tibor was subjected to the full thrust of Nazi brutality. Enslaved by the Germans, and then later taken prisoner by the Russians, he survived the inhumanity of the prison camps through his strong will and determination.
Returning to Budapest in 1947, he discovered that virtually all his family had been obliterated. Then, in 1956, still chafing under Communist rule, Tibor selected to escape to the West with his wife and two small children. A year later, they arrived penniless but free in the United States.
For the next 18 years, Tibor worked to raise his family and achieve a modicum of financial security. Finally, in 1974, freed from many prior financial responsibilities and secure in an art management position with a large retail company, he was finally able to turn his attention to other artistic interests.
Tibor’s talents have proved varied as well as prolific. Working in marble, alabaster, bronze, cold cast bronze, aluminum and resin, he has created a variety of inspiring pieces.
Education:
Industrial Art & Design School Budapest Hungary
University of Miami Art Classes Coral Gables, Florida
Dad Junior College Miami, Florida
Columbus College of Art & Design Columbus, Ohio
Tibor has had over 64 exhibitions in cities all over the world. He has over 475 pieces in private collections and museums in this country and abroad. He has completed more than 35 major outdoor commissions.
Born in Konyar, Hungary in 1920, Tibor was subjected to the full thrust of Nazi brutality. Enslaved by the Germans, and then later taken prisoner by the Russians, he survived the inhumanity of the prison camps through his strong will and determination.
Returning to Budapest in 1947, he discovered that virtually all his family had been obliterated. Then, in 1956, still chafing under Communist rule, Tibor selected to escape to the West with his wife and two small children. A year later, they arrived penniless but free in the United States.
For the next 18 years, Tibor worked to raise his family and achieve a modicum of financial security. Finally, in 1974, freed from many prior financial responsibilities and secure in an art management position with a large retail company, he was finally able to turn his attention to other artistic interests.
Tibor’s talents have proved varied as well as prolific. Working in marble, alabaster, bronze, cold cast bronze, aluminum and resin, he has created a variety of inspiring pieces.
Education:
Industrial Art & Design School Budapest Hungary
University of Miami Art Classes Coral Gables, Florida
Dad Junior College Miami, Florida
Columbus College of Art & Design Columbus, Ohio
Tibor has had over 64 exhibitions in cities all over the world. He has over 475 pieces in private collections and museums in this country and abroad. He has completed more than 35 major outdoor commissions.
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South Side Settlement House and Huntington Bank Arts Freedom Award October 16, 2005 This award honors gifted artists who have utilized their talents to elevate the human condition and have improved our community through their art |
State of Ohio- Ohio Senate 2005 Ohioana Pegasus Award Given by the Ohioana Library Association to those who play a prominent role in the ciulturla affairs and educational development of the community |
