Regional Spotlight Artist Profile | Lilian Horvath
Published on 09 October 2026
The Regional Spotlight initiative is an opportunity for Wide-Bay Burnett artists at any stage in their career, working in any visual art medium, to receive mentorship and share their work at the gallery. Developed from an expressions of interest process, the 2026 exhibition brings a multifaceted survey of local artists sharing their personal connection to space, landscape, environment, home and time through mediums of painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture and mixed media work.
Metal artist Lilian Horvath practices Mexican hojalatería and Algerian dinanderie (chasing metal) techniques to create enchanting artworks inspired by animals and embroidery patterns.
How long have you been making artwork?
This is a difficult question to answer. Should I say: "since I was very young! I won a drawing contest at age of 8 or 9!". Would that be too presumptuous?
I know for sure my prominent metal work started in Australia.
While waiting for my visa, getting acquainted with this part of the world and finding who I was becoming here, I started to explore aluminium. First, with soda cans, alufoil from the kitchen till I found the metal sheet that I use today, experimenting also with different tools that my husband made for me and others I have been collecting from other mediums and reinventing them.
What are your favourite mediums to work with and why?
Although I love working with paper in different ways like papier mâché, I found myself in these times immersed in the exploration of metal as I love patterns and light. The light that the metal reflects as much as the light passing through the metal while pierced.
Who/what inspires or influences you?
Everything inspires me; however, I believe I am more drawn to portray animals, embroidery patterns from around the world, Mexican crafts and Arab patterns.
Mexican hojalatería and Algerian dinanderie (chasing metal) have been of great influence. In Mexico I have a collection of metal pieces; maybe I missed them so much that I decided to create my own in my own distinctive way.
On a different note, as an artist...
I like Remedios Varo and Leonora Carrington. The way they portray mythology, dreams, textures, and the surreal.
Has your practise and subject matter changed over time? If so, how?
I have learned different things through the years. The decision of not pursuing those paths were external.
While in Algeria I learned how to paint pottery Algerian style; later I started learning mosaic and Algerian painting, but as it was time to go back to Mexico, I could not continue. Mexico is well renowned for its pottery among other crafts; I could not find a workshop near me.
At my return to Mexico, I did a one-year jeweller apprenticeship. Unfortunately, my teacher and friend committed suicide, and I never returned to jewellery. I guess the metal work I do today is linked with jewellery.
When I started working with aluminium, I was more concentrated on abstract figures, hearts and hamsas, and now I am more interested in geometric patterns based on animals, embroidery patterns and light.
What do you most like about living in the region?
The wildlife: kookaburras, galahs, butcherbirds, king parrots, wallabies, roos, and the trees.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Study biology and crochet too!
What is the most interesting feedback you have had about your work?
I generally get the genuine interest of people wanting to know how I did the pieces. I have been told that it is so different from what is out there.
Photo: Lilian Horvath, supplied by the artist.