Teréz Galánfiné Schmidt and her students

Teréz Galánfiné Schmidt, a textile artist, was born in 1957 in Etyek. She pursued her studies in the Gyula Kulich Vocational Secondary School for Clothing in Budapest, and afer her school-leaving exams, in 1976, she be came a member of the Weaving Workshop of Etyek, where her master was Györgyi Csókos Varga and the Sekler women of Bukovina. She received the title of Young Master of Folk Art in 1981. She went to Hajdúszoboszló in 1983 and earned the title of Applied Folk Artist in 1986. She studied under Mrs László Papp in Debrecen in 1991 and became the founding member of the Small Folk Crafs Service-providing Crafs Vocational School in Nádudvar in 1992. She co-founded the weaving workshop with Péter Lőrincz, a carver and weaver, and continually developed it during the decades of its operation. Te frst group of her carpet weaving students in the school won the Gold Plaque of the Living Folk Art competition at the 11th National Exhibition of Folk Art in 1994, and at the same competition Teréz Galánfiné Schmidt received the Pomegranate Award, which she won again in 2010. Her students have won numerous prizes at competitions. Ten of her carpet weaver students and four of her textile weaver students have won the title of Young Master of Folk Art, while eight of her students have been granted the Junior Prima Award. Teréz Galánfiné Schmidt was bestowed with the Life Tree Award in 2012 and with the title of Master of Folk Art in 2016.

She runs weaving camps in various parts of Hungary every summer. Her co-artists are deeply influenced by her individual style and the way in which she initiated them into the treasures of Hungarian folk art and passing on the knacks of the craf. Masters and teachers have come from under her hands simultaneously with her masterpieces, conceived in the unity of love and expertise. Her book titled A kézi szövés rejtelmei (Te Mysteries of Hand-weaving, Center-Print Nyomda Kf., Debrecen), co-authored with Péter Lőrincz, was published in 2022. Te volume presents old, traditional weaving techniques, with her drawings and special woven attires providing guidance in the world of textile weaving.
Margit Géczy learnt not only about the craf of textile weaving from her master, Teréz Galánfiné Schmidt, but also about humanity, reverence and ded ication to one’s trade. She won the title of Young Master of Folk Art in 2022.
Orsolya Szőllősi-Dede won the title of Young Master of Folk Art in 2010, and the Junior Prima Award in 2012. She co-designed the djidjim piece, dis played at this exhibition, with her master, Teréz Galánfiné Schmidt, and im plemented it herself.
Anita Sebestyénné Tankovits became familiar with the treasures of Hun garian folk art through Hungarians living abroad and she decided to pursue folk art afer returning home. She applied to the school in Nádudvar, and there, in the workshop of Teréz Galánfiné Schmidt, she committed herself to weaving for life. She makes woollen carpets and bedspreads, while she also loves weaving cotton and linen home textiles and clothing accessories. She won the title of Young Master of Folk Art in 2004 and received the Bronze certifcate at the Living Folk Art exhibition in 2015.
Nikolett Dienes has taken an interest in folk art since her childhood. Teréz Galánfiné Schmidt was her master between 2005 and 2008 in Nádudvar, and the knowledge, impulses and experience she acquired there led her onto the path of weaving for good. She believes that it is the task and duty of every person to explore their own history, traditions and folk art. She received the title of Young Master of Folk Art in 2007.