Contemporary Ceramic Figural Lifesize Female Sculpture By Dora Várkonyi

zeitlosnah (“timeless and close”)
This series of lifesize female sculptures exuding a static aura of self-containment was created in 2013-2014 by DORA VÁRKONYI


"zeitlos" –> without attributes such as hairstyle, clothing, or jewelry
"nah" –> strong, independent, determined, and autonomous
Height: 182–185 cm
Material: Clay, fired at 1200° _ partially treated with porcelain, engobes, and oxides
Number of sculptures by 2025 –> 60
All sculptures are individually handcrafted, one-of-a-kind pieces.

The posture of the androgynous female figure is frontal, motionless and at peace with herself. Thematically, the work depicts a meditative posture in which empathy, strength, and determination to act manifest themselves.
It addresses the age-old question: Who am I? How do I position myself in the world around me?
The female body, as both an object and a projection surface, has long been a primary motif for artists. It is only recently, and only in certain countries, that female artists have been given the opportunity to study art and thus live as freely and autonomously as is necessary for creativity. Since then, they have complemented and enriched the previously one-sided portrayal. I count myself among these female artists. Sculpture series zeitlosnah

The sculptures show minimal variations in their bodies, postures and facial expressions.
Texture and structure differ from figure to figure; the full range of crafting possibilities offered by clay is exploited as a means of artistic expression.
The artist’s specific handling of the material is unparalleled.
Each figure is a unique work of art.
The sculptures are precious as individual pieces but also as parts of the series, where they form the elements of a bigger pattern.
The titles of the sculptures evoke archaic concepts: Compassion, Memory, Freedom, Peace, Grace, etc.

We can send you additional detailed photos and photos of another figures on demand.
The art objects will be delivered in one piece.
All objects are fired clay by 1200 °C, there is no problem to leave them outside.
They are resistant to climatic changes.
The object can be mounted on a concrete base - every floor tiler is able to do this work.
Dirt can be removed by washing.


BIOGRAPHY
Born in Debrecen (Hungary)
Grew up in Debrecen, Constantine (Algeria), Budapest, Rome, and Saarbrücken
Resident in Stuttgart since 1975
Studied ceramics, art history, and art education at the State Academy of Fine Arts in Stuttgart
1981 State Examination
Freelance artist
1982 to 2010 Lecturer at the Free Academy of Fine Arts in Nürtingen and at the University of Applied Sciences for Art Therapy in Nürtingen
Since 2009 New studio and exhibition spacesin 70182 Stuttgart, Germany
2025/2026 Art Karlsruhe International Fair for Classical, Modern, and Contemporary Art
2026 Jakobshallen Bad Homburg / Frankfurt



EXHIBITIONS
2004, 2006
Mamer Municipality, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Ceramic Sculpture Biennial
2005, 2009, 2011, 2013
Kapfenberg, Austria
International Ceramics Biennial of the City of Kapfenberg
2005
Varazin, Croatia
The International Ceramics Festival Varazdin
2006
Fürstenwalde
7th Miniature in the Visual Arts
2007, 2009, 2011, 2013
Stuttgart _ Art Association
Artists’ Fair
2008
Purchase of a work by the Stuttgart Regional Council
Up from 2010
Stuttgart _ Galerie 81
Annual themed exhibitions and permanent exhibition
2013
Westerwald, Ceramics Museum
The Figure, Sculpture in Ceramics Naspa
2016
Salon d’Art Actuell Chazelles-sur-Lyon, Invited Guest of Honor
2017
Schwarzenberg _ Ore Mountains
art-gura, 7th Art Prize of the City of Schwarzenberg
2018
Neue Keramik _ The European Ceramics Magazine
2018 Issue 2, Pages 32–35
2018
Bernd and Gisela Foundation, Rosenheim
2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Art Karlsruhe _ International Fair for Classical Modern
and Contemporary Art _ Galerie Arthus _ Bertin Genges _ Zell / Cologne
2016
Solo Exhibitions
2017
4th Zell Art Trails
Purchase of a sculpture by the City of Zell am Harmersbach
for the Zell Art Trails
2020
State Prize for Design, Art, and Crafts 2020
Regional Council of Karlsruhe
2021
Nürtingen Kreuzkirche _ Art in the Region _ Ceramics: 3 Perspectives
2022
The European Ceramics Magazine - January 2022, pp. 12-13: Portrait
2022
Galerie Handwerk Munich “Fairy Tales, Myths, Stories”
2022
International Ceramics Symposium Römhild Thuringia
2023
Latvia Martinsons Award – International Biennial – Rothko Museum Daugav-pils
2023/24
China – Jingdezhen – International Ceramic Art Biennial
2024
Atrium AEB Stuttgart


ART IN ARCHITECTURE
1995
Göppingen Riot Police
2013
Acquired by the Ravensburg District Court
From the “Zeitlosnah” series: the sculpture “Justice”


AWARDS
1980
Stuttgart Academy of Fine Arts Award
1982
Rotary Club, Stuttgart-Klosterneuburg/Vienna Sponsorship Award for Young Artists and Scholars
2010
St. Leopold Peace Prize for Humanitarian Commitment in the Arts
First Prize, including a museum acquisition, for the sculpture group
“Breaks in the Biography”