Art MFA Christina Szakonyi Featured on Realism Today

FSU Art MFA ’22 Christina Szakonyi was featured in the August, 2020 Edition of Realism Today in an article titled, “Unbridled: A Painting That Questions The Assumptions We Make.” In the article, Szakonyi takes us behind the scenes of her equine painting, “Unbridled,” while sharing insight on her artistic vision. When asked what qualities make an artwork truly great, Szakonyi answers, “This question seems to inhabit my mind more and more and the answers are as unique as the individual answering the question. For me, the work I am most excited about creating has the magic combination of beauty, mystery, and emotion. This trifecta is what I aspire to with each and every piece I create.”

Ms. Szakonyi is an award-winning representational artist living and working in Florida. Her interest in art began at a young age when she spent her summers drawing the characters of traditional animation and the horses surrounding her home. She later studied art in college, where she earned an associate degree in graphic design. It wasn’t until several years later that she sought out more rigorous training in traditional fine arts with Jonathan Hardesty of ClassicalArtOnline and Charles Miano of the Southern Atelier. Her work has been exhibited nationally, and she was selected as one of 21, Under-31 Young Artists to Watch in 2017 by Southwest Art Magazine. She is currently a Master of Fine Arts candidate at Florida State University and an Associate Member of Oil Painters of America.

While my work may be about a specific personal experience, I want the viewer to interpret and experience it in their own way… I am driven to create work that reflects the human experience while also inspiring contemplation, regardless of subject matter.