Judy Cassab facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Judit Kaszab
better known as Judy Cassab |
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From Cassab's scrapbook deposited in the National Library of Australia: With her baby son John in Budapest in 1945 Judy Cassab was happy to be reunited with her husband as the Germans were driven out
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| Born |
Judit Kaszab
15 August 1920 Vienna, Austria
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| Died | 3 November 2015 (aged 95) Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
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| Occupation | Artist, writer |
| Spouse(s) | Jeff Tomson |
| Children | Janos (John, 1945) and Peter (1947) |
Judy Cassab (born Judit Kaszab on August 15, 1920, died November 3, 2015) was a famous Australian painter. She was known for her amazing portraits and won many awards for her art. She was also the first woman to win the important Archibald Prize twice.
Contents
Early Life and Challenges
Judy Cassab was born in Vienna, Austria, on August 15, 1920. Her parents were Jewish and from Hungary. She started painting when she was just twelve years old.
In 1938, she began studying at the Academy of Art in Prague. However, she had to leave in 1939 because of the German occupation during World War II.
During this difficult time, Judy worked in a factory using a different name. She used her artistic skills to help others by secretly making fake papers and passports. Her husband, Jancsi Kampfner, was forced into a labor camp by the Nazis. He returned to Hungary in 1944.
In 1951, Judy, her husband, and their two sons moved to Australia. They made their new home in Sydney. Judy Cassab officially became an Australian citizen in 1957.
A Remarkable Art Career
Judy Cassab became a very successful artist in Australia. She was the first woman ever to win the famous Archibald Prize twice. This prize is given for the best portrait painted each year.
- In 1960, she won for her portrait of artist Stan Rapotec.
- In 1967, she won again for her portrait of artist Margo Lewers.
Judy held more than fifty solo art shows in Australia. She also had exhibitions in big cities like Paris and London. Her paintings are now part of many important art collections.
One of her artworks was bought by the National Gallery. She was interviewed about how she managed to capture people's true character in her portraits. This interview is now part of a special collection of artist stories.
Some of Her Solo Exhibitions
Judy Cassab had many art shows where her work was displayed alone. Here are a few examples:
- 1953 - Macquarie Galleries, Sydney
- 1959 - Crane Kalman Gallery, London
- 1963 - Rudy Koman Gallery, Sydney
- 1981 - Australian Embassy, Paris
- 1988 - National Library, Canberra
- 1998 - S. H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
- 2003 - Vasarely Muzeum, Budapest
- 2013 - National Portrait Gallery, Canberra
Awards and Special Honors
Judy Cassab received many awards and honors for her contributions to art:
- On June 14, 1969, she was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). This was to recognize her great service to the visual arts.
- On January 26, 1988, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO). This was another honor for her service to the visual arts.
- On March 3, 1995, the University of Sydney gave her an honorary Doctor of Letters degree. This is a special award given to people who have achieved a lot.
- In 2011, she received Hungary’s Gold Cross of Merit.
Here are some other awards she won:
- 1955 - The Perth Prize
- 1956 - The Australian Women's Weekly Prize
- 1961 - The Archibald Prize (for Stanislaus Rapotec)
- 1964 - The Helena Rubenstein Prize, Perth
- 1968 - The Archibald Prize (for Margo Lewers)
- 1994 - The Trustee Watercolour Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales
- 1996 - The Nita Kibble Award for Literature, for her book Diaries
- 2004 - The Painters and Sculptors Association of Australia Medal
Later Life
Judy Cassab passed away on November 3, 2015. She was 95 years old and was living in a nursing home in Randwick, a suburb of Sydney.
