Francois Szalay - Colos
Encyclopedia
Francois Colos was a Hungarian-born, US-established designer and artist. Beside his long career as a designer for prestigious French and American newspapers, magazines, and companies, he is the author of a 14-years collage diary (1976–1989). He started studying graphic art and engraving techniques in 1974 but was arrested by the political arm of the police in 1951 and sent to a coal mine deep in the Gulag
. He was freed after five years, in 1956, by the Hungarian revolution and, in 1957, turned up by chance in Paris, France, studying at the Ecole des Beaux Arts and the Ecole du Louvre
.
After only one year, in 1958, he illustrated several books and magazines winning several prizes in Belgium, England and Germany.
In 1959 will start working in his main field collage
- a technique which will lead to his second love - photography
.
In 1960 will receive his first photographic assignment in Rome, Italy, and in 1961 will participate at the Cannes Film Festival
.
In 1964, after two short film features in England and Canary Islands, he will start a 5-years associations with the French Television, imposing a new graphic style.
After frequent study trips through Europe, Asia and Africa, in 1966 will visit the United States and settles permanently in Manhattan, in 1970, as a free-lance artist. His career will be consolidated by further drawings and concepts which will bring him numerous prizes and important clients: Time
, Life
, The New York Times
, Playboy
, Hustler
, Exxon
, Mobil
, Texaco
, Xerox
, McGraw Hill, Harpers
and Newsweek
. In 1973 receives the silver medal in the Nikon International Photo-Contest.
In 1974 published his first book in English with Holt Rinehart & Winston. Continues his work and, in 1976, he begans the work at his "Diary" - a monumental collection of collages which ended in 1989, when Francois Szalay-Colos died at New York Hospital
, Manhattan. He was survived by his wife, Michelle.
Gulag
The Gulag was the government agency that administered the main Soviet forced labor camp systems. While the camps housed a wide range of convicts, from petty criminals to political prisoners, large numbers were convicted by simplified procedures, such as NKVD troikas and other instruments of...
. He was freed after five years, in 1956, by the Hungarian revolution and, in 1957, turned up by chance in Paris, France, studying at the Ecole des Beaux Arts and the Ecole du Louvre
École du Louvre
The École du Louvre is an institution of higher education and French Grande École located in the Aile de Flore of the Musée du Louvre in Paris, France, and is dedicated to the study of archaeology, art history, anthropology and epigraphy....
.
After only one year, in 1958, he illustrated several books and magazines winning several prizes in Belgium, England and Germany.
In 1959 will start working in his main field collage
Collage
A collage is a work of formal art, primarily in the visual arts, made from an assemblage of different forms, thus creating a new whole....
- a technique which will lead to his second love - photography
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
.
In 1960 will receive his first photographic assignment in Rome, Italy, and in 1961 will participate at the Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
.
In 1964, after two short film features in England and Canary Islands, he will start a 5-years associations with the French Television, imposing a new graphic style.
After frequent study trips through Europe, Asia and Africa, in 1966 will visit the United States and settles permanently in Manhattan, in 1970, as a free-lance artist. His career will be consolidated by further drawings and concepts which will bring him numerous prizes and important clients: Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
, Life
Life (magazine)
Life generally refers to three American magazines:*A humor and general interest magazine published from 1883 to 1936. Time founder Henry Luce bought the magazine in 1936 solely so that he could acquire the rights to its name....
, The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
, Hustler
Hustler
Hustler is a monthly pornographic magazine aimed at men and published in the United States. It was first published in 1974 by Larry Flynt. It was a step forward from the Hustler Newsletter which was cheap advertising for his strip club businesses at the time. The magazine grew from a shaky start to...
, Exxon
Exxon
Exxon is a chain of gas stations as well as a brand of motor fuel and related products by ExxonMobil. From 1972 to 1999, Exxon was the corporate name of the company previously known as Standard Oil Company of New Jersey or Jersey Standard....
, Mobil
Mobil
Mobil, previously known as the Socony-Vacuum Oil Company, was a major American oil company which merged with Exxon in 1999 to form ExxonMobil. Today Mobil continues as a major brand name within the combined company, as well as still being a gas station sometimes paired with their own store or On...
, Texaco
Texaco
Texaco is the name of an American oil retail brand. Its flagship product is its fuel "Texaco with Techron". It also owns the Havoline motor oil brand....
, Xerox
Xerox
Xerox Corporation is an American multinational document management corporation that produced and sells a range of color and black-and-white printers, multifunction systems, photo copiers, digital production printing presses, and related consulting services and supplies...
, McGraw Hill, Harpers
Harpers
The Harpers are a fictional and semi-secret organization in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting of the role playing game Dungeons & Dragons...
and Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
. In 1973 receives the silver medal in the Nikon International Photo-Contest.
In 1974 published his first book in English with Holt Rinehart & Winston. Continues his work and, in 1976, he begans the work at his "Diary" - a monumental collection of collages which ended in 1989, when Francois Szalay-Colos died at New York Hospital
New York Hospital
New York Hospital or “Old New York Hospital” or “City Hospital” was the oldest hospital in New York City and the second oldest hospital in the United States.-Early History:...
, Manhattan. He was survived by his wife, Michelle.