STUDIO CONFESS

Emese GáborPortrait Sculptor and Facial Reconstruction Artist

Email: gaboremese1@gmail.comWebsite: www.portreszobrok.hu

BiographyEmese Gábor is a Hungarian portrait sculptor and skull-based facial reconstruction artist, born in 1973 in Budapest, Hungary.

Education and Training

She pursued her studies in portrait sculpture at the Hungarian University of Applied Arts and in the studio of master goldsmith Gábor Kereszthury.In portrait painting, her mentor was painter Vilmos Varga, while in portrait drawing she studied under graphic artists László Kácser (Hungarian University of Fine Arts) and Péter Jandó (Hungarian University of Applied Arts).Her knowledge of color theory was acquired from József Gollob, and her artistic approach was shaped under Dr. László Zobor.From 1995, for several years, she painted and copied oil portraits for emigrated Hungarian noble families (counts and barons) in England and Belgium. 

She gained her anatomical knowledge at the forensic autopsy departments of Semmelweis University under the supervision of Professor György Szilágyi (1999). Her facial reconstruction studies were further developed through international courses (University of Sheffield) and at the Department of Anthropology of the Hungarian Natural History Museum, under the guidance of Zsolt Bernert and Dr. Sándor Évinger, anthropologists. 

She acquired forensic anthropology qualifications at the Sherlock Forensic Institute, New Delhi, India.Artistic and Scientific WorkSince 1994, Emese Gábor has created more than forty public bronze busts, a similar number of indoor portrait sculptures, and over seventy scientifically based artistic facial reconstructions in Hungary and abroad. Sculptural Style Her sculptural works are characterized by realistic portrait fidelity and an anatomical-psychological interpretation of human character.Her sculptures are consistently created in the spirit of Hungarian cultural identity, portraying prominent figures of Hungarian history and culture. In 2012, she introduced the concept of "soul sculpture", emphasizing the importance of representing inner psychological qualities in addition to formally accurate portrait depiction. Her work explores the question of portrait authenticity and how sculpture, as a material art form, can be imbued with spiritual and intellectual content. 

Facial Reconstruction Work In her facial reconstructions, scientific and anatomical accuracy is paramount. Anthropological traits are defined in collaboration with professional anthropologists.Using precise anatomical and anthropological measurement points, soft-tissue depths are applied with sub-millimeter accuracy to reconstruct the original human facial character, including sex, age, anthropological type, asymmetries, and injuries. 

Her reconstructions are based on anthropological remains from the Carpathian Basin and Kazakhstan, primarily covering the following periods: Árpád Period Hungarian Conquest Period Avar Period Hun Period Carolingian Period Neolithic Tumulus Cultures Migration Period Ottoman Period She has also produced reconstructions from Siberian, Kobdo–Altai, Turkic kurgan, and Pazyryk culture contexts.Her scientific head and facial reconstructions combine the Russian Gerasimov muscle-layer method, the British Manchester School methodology, and her own database based on several thousand skull measurements, along with CT-based modeling. Major Achievements Her works are held in museums in Kazakhstan, Germany, and Serbia, as well as in private collections in the United States, France, England, and Belgium. She has participated in numerous exhibitions in Hungary.

Creator of Hungary's first statue of Albert Wass (Debrecen-Pallag)Donated the Lajos Pósa bust to Hódmezővásárhely; founded the Pósa Prize Author of 15 books and illustrator of more than 50 volumes Major illustration projects include: Albert Wass Fairy-Tale Series, Hungarian Fishing Encyclopedia, Conifers Around the World, Lajos Pósa Fairy-Tale SeriesSubject of a Strasbourg Hungarians Lifetime Achievement Conference (2014)International and Cultural RelationsPolish–Hungarian relations: statues of Adam Mickiewicz (Budapest) and Saint Kinga (Aknaszlatina, Transcarpathia); facial reconstruction in Stary Sącz, PolandSlovak–Hungarian relations: regular guest at Christian pedagogue conferences in Ružomberok; first Hungarian artist featured in a full issue of the Slovak art journal Perspectives of Culture and Art (2024)Institutional ProjectsShe created the skull-based scientific facial reconstructions of Hungarian kings and saints within the Árpád House Project at the Hungarian Natural History Museum.She continued the visualization of the Hungarian Pantheon at the László Gyula Research Centre and Archives of the Hungarian Research Institute, under the leadership of Professor Dr. Miklós Kásler.She identified, among hundreds of remains in the Székesfehérvár Ossuary, a skull hypothesized to belong to King Matthias Corvinus, based on comparative analysis with János Corvinus. This hypothesis was published as a scientific hypothesis with co-authors.She leads a multidisciplinary research group at the ARC-heo art-REKO Studio.She is responsible for the Hun-period facial reconstructions for the major Attila Exhibition of the Hungarian National Museum.Currently, she is the only portrait sculptor in Hungary producing plastic facial reconstructions on a scientific basis while maintaining high artistic standards, drawing on over 30 years of sculptural experience.

Major professional activities, exhibitions and collaborationsHungarian Natural History Museum – facial reconstruction expert (Árpád House Project), 2021–2023Hungarian Research Institute (Magyarságkutató Intézet), László Gyula Research Centre – facial reconstruction specialist and portrait sculptor (Hungarian Pantheon), 2023–2025Semmelweis University – lectures and teaching for Hungarian and international students (facial reconstruction, skull morphology), 2023–presentMargulan National Archaeological Institute (Kazakhstan) – creation of graphic facial reconstructions based on Hun- and Sarmatian-period remains for the publication Archaeology of the Kazakh Nation; facial reconstruction research, 2023–2024 Hungarian Natural History Museum – Life and Death in the Ottoman Period exhibition: facial reconstruction, Fonyód"From Abasár to Mongolia" – chamber exhibition of the Hungarian Research Institute; presentation of the reconstructions of King Béla III and Queen Anna of AntiochBudapest History Museum – Aquincum Museum – skull-based facial reconstructions from the Roman period and other eras, 2024–2025ARC-heo art-REKO Studio – independent workshop where plastic (three-dimensional) reconstructions are producedHungarian National Museum – facial reconstructions for the Attila Exhibition, 2026 

Public and institutional portrait sculptures, reliefs and memorials (selected)(partly based on the Köztérkép database)Lajos Pósa – 5/4-scale bronze bust, Hódmezővásárhely (2010)József Mindszenty, Cardinal and Prince Primate – bronze bust, Taksony (2009)Count István Széchenyi – bronze busts, Dabas (2010); Budakeszi (2010); Kiskőrös (2011)Albert Wass – several versions: relief (Debrecen, 2003), bust (Budakeszi, 2008), memorial (Taksony, 2008), late-life portrait (Budapest), bust (Eger, 2019)Pope Saint John Paul II – bronze bust, Székesfehérvár (2019)Miklós Radnóti – bronze head sculpture, RAM Colosseum, Budapest (2011)József Nagysándor, one of the Martyrs of Arad – relief, Budakeszi (2014)József V. Molnár – bronze bust, Mátyásföld (2022)Sándor Kőrösi Csoma – bronze bust, Dharma Gate Buddhist College (Tan Kapuja Buddhista Főiskola) (2023)Adam Mickiewicz – bronze bust, Óbuda (2022)Ervin Baktay – bronze bust, Dharma Gate Buddhist College (2023)György Bragyova, honorary citizen of Dabas, Holocaust survivor – full-figure bronze statue (2017)Dr. Csaba Fenyvesi – bronze bust, BVSC (2016)Dr. Ferenc Lelik – bronze bust, Dabas (2018)Imre Balyog Tóth – relief, Bernecebaráti (2017)Father László Bisztrai – bronze bust, Dabas (2020)Ottokár Prohászka – bronze bust, Székesfehérvár (2021)István Szabó of Sokorópátka – bronze bust, Sokorópátka (2022)András Dienes, literary historian – relief, Buda Castle (2021)László Kőrösi – memorial plaque, Orosháza (2018)Mihály Tar – bronze relief, Érd (2023)Gyula Fürész – relief, Iváncsa (2023)National Unity Memorial of Trianon – bronze and marble, Nyíregyháza (2020)Brigadier General Géza Michl – relief, Budapest Police Headquarters (BRFK) (2020)János Mészáros – relief, Dabas (2020)1956 Memorial – Dabas (2016)Vera Csapody – bronze commemorative plaque, FŐKERT, Gellért Hill (2020)József Szent-Iványi – relief memorial plaque, Rimavská Sobota / Rimaszombat (2018)Santiago de Chile – two full-figure statues (2020)Sándor Petőfi – bronze relief, Csekefalva, Transylvania (2021)Brigadier General Walter Fülöp – relief, Budapest, National Police Headquarters (ORFK) (2022)Ernő Hetényi – bronze bust, Budapest (2023)Géza Csomay – bronze memorial plaque (2023)Győző Gaál – bronze memorial plaque (2023)Ferenc Gábor – bronze bust, Dabas (2023)Saint Kinga – full-figure artificial-stone statue, Aknaszlatina, Ukraine (2023)King Béla III – bronze portrait sculpture (facial reconstruction), Budapest, Matthias Church (2024)Queen Anna of Antioch – bronze portrait sculpture (facial reconstruction), Budapest, Matthias Church (2024)Dr. Ibolya Séra – bronze memorial plaque, Debrecen (2024)Mihály Hoppál – bronze portrait sculpture, Budapest (2024)Mihály Takaró – bronze portrait sculpture, Budapest (2024)Károly Laky – bronze bust, Budapest, BVSC (2025)Ferenc Lányi – bronze bust, Dunakeszi (2025)Skull-based scientific facial reconstructions (selected)King Béla III and Queen Anna of Antioch – plastic facial reconstructions – Hungarian Pantheon, Hungarian Research Institute (2023)Face of a Hungarian Conquest-period man (Nagykőrös) – Árpád House Project, Hungarian Natural History Museum (2023)Avar man, Balázshalom – Hungarian Natural History Museum (2022)Hungarian Conquest-period girl, Dormánd–Hanyipuszta – Mátra Museum (2023–2024)Turkic-period man (Kobdo–Altai kurgan) – Our Shared Heritage Carved in Stone exhibition (2022), Kurultáj – Hungarian Turan Foundation, Attila TentBalkan man (Ottoman period) – Life and Death in the Ottoman Period exhibition, Hungarian Natural History Museum (2023)Seven archaeological facial reconstructions – The Past Comes Alive exhibition (finds from the Lake Balaton region), Bakony Museum of Natural Sciences, Zirc (2023–2024)Khanty skull (Siberia, 3rd Zichy Expedition, 1898) – scientific reconstruction, Hungarian Natural History Museum (2023)Facial reconstruction of a Hungarian Conquest-period girl – "Őseinket felhozád" exhibition, Bečej/Óbecse, Serbia, Hungarian Turan Foundation (April 2023)Avar-period girl – Kecskemét, Cifrapalota: In Search of a Lost People (2024)Central Asian Hun–Sarmatian and Tatar aristocracy: Talmas Ata (from Batu Khan's headquarters army) – fieldwork, reconstructions and conferences (Kazakhstan, 2023)Sarmatian "Lady Commander" – Atyrau Historical Museum: Pearls of the Great Steppe exhibition (2024)"The First Hajdúság Shepherd" – Yamnaya, 5,000-year-old find: facial reconstruction, Hajdúsági Museum (2023)Neolithic man – Zeitenwandel. Als Europa wurde… / "The Steppe Heritage" exhibition, Bad Buchau, Federsee Museum (18 May 2025)Árpád House Saints series – Saint Kinga (Stary Sącz, Poland), Saint Margaret (Royal Basilica of Esztergom)Árpád House descendants – Prince Béla of Macsó, Hungarian Research Institute, Hungarian Pantheon (2023–2025)János Corvin and Kristóf Corvin; and a presumed King Matthias Corvinus – plastic and graphic reconstructions (2023–2025)Hungarian National Museum, Attila Exhibition (2026) – facial reconstruction material based on nine Hun-period intentionally deformed skulls, including the famous "Regöly Golden Grave" princessScientific and professional publications (selected)Plastic facial reconstructions of Béla III and Anna of Antioch – Emese Gábor – András Bardócz – György Szabados, Alba Regia 51 (2023), 61–92, SzékesfehérvárFacial reconstruction of skulls No. I/5, I/9 and I/10 from the graves of the Basilica of the Virgin Mary – Emese Gábor – Martin Trautmann – György Szabados, Valóság 2025/7Facial reconstruction based on a skull of a young woman – in: In Search of a Lost People, publication of the Katona József Museum, Kecskemét (2024)"Tall of stature, noble of face" – conference lecture on the plastic facial reconstructions of King Béla III and Queen Anna, Székesfehérvár City Hall Ceremonial Hall (12 Dec 2023)Face to face with our rulers – Béla III and other historical persons: facial reconstruction lecture, Baja, Honpolgár Estek season-opening event (Sept 2025)"Measurable Past" Scientific Conference – Archaeology of Death: Face to face, the facial reconstruction of a 5,000-year-old shepherd – lecture, Hungarian National Museum (30 Apr 2025)Facial reconstructions of Hungarian kings and saints – professional lecture, Rippl-Rónai Museum, Kaposvár (23 Apr 2025)Facial reconstruction techniques – Ružomberok, Slovakia (13 Jun 2025)Hungarian Pantheon: facial reconstruction of kings and saints – Kolozsvár/Cluj, Hungarian Days, Sapientia Hungarian University of TransylvaniaFacial reconstruction of historical persons – methodological overview – lecture, Myth and History III – Ipolyi 170th Conference, Budapest, Hungarian Research Institute (16 Oct 2024)Faces from the Past – The integration of forensic and historical facial reconstruction techniques – lecture, K. Zhubanov Aktobe Regional University, Aktobe, Kazakhstan (2023)Media appearances, interviews, TV and radio features (selected)Hungarian Television (M1, M5, Duna TV) – portrait film Valaki (2011); interviews on facial reconstructions (História Magazin, Magyar Nők, Hír-Érték)Magyar Nemzet – multi-page feature: "Gábor Emese reconstructs the faces of our ancestors" (2022)Tudás.hu – "A Hungarian Conquest-period man's face reconstructed from a thousand years away" (2023)M5 História Magazin – Dobó István facial reconstruction (2022)Magyar Demokrata – "The King's Soul Sculptor" (2023)Kossuth Radio – Felfedező – interview on sculptural and scientific facial reconstruction (2022)Radio interviews in Sydney and Toronto – facial reconstructions and cultural heritage (2023)Budakörnyéki Television – Let's Face Our Ancestors (2022); The Human Face of a Great King (2023)Hír-Érték TV – 15 years of portrait programmes: sculptures, innocent victims, facial reconstructions and royal portraits… (2006–2024)Awards and recognitionsXantus János Memorial Plaque – for sculptural achievementMillennial Memorial Competition Prize – award for a sculptural entryPro Urbe Dabas – for public sculpture activity in the city

I have been making sculptures for more, than 20 years. My sculptures can apper in squares of big cities or in streets of small villages. My art of sculpture is mainly portrait-art. Portraits about famous or unknown or forgotten people, writers, poets, philoshopers, historical persons, composers, all my favorite themes.

I make some plaques, full shape sculptures or animal figures as well, but always the most important driver of my art is the soul and the spirit of all of them.