The Strength of Fragility. Interview with Artist Agnes Buronyi
When broken glass becomes an emotional language where identity, resilience, and light intertwine in an intimate and contemporary tale
Tell us what you do and your beginnings.
I am an artist based in Sydney, Australia, originally from Budapest, Hungary. My journey began in 2009 as a self-taught artist creating graphite and charcoal portraits. At that time, I was driven purely by curiosity and the desire to understand how emotion and identity can be expressed through the human face.
As my passion grew, I sought formal training and studied life drawing, watercolour, and oil painting at the Julian Ashton Art School in Sydney, later continuing with concept art studies at CG Master Academy and also completing a diploma in Graphic Design. Over the years, I explored many mediums — from traditional painting to digital art — always searching for the one that felt most aligned with my voice.
From 2010 to 2022, I built the first online drawing education platform in Hungary, sharing knowledge and inspiring a digital community of learners. This experience shaped my understanding of storytelling, communication, and connection.
Eventually, my path led me to glass — a medium that felt both unexpected and deeply personal. I became captivated by the beauty of fractured glass, especially the way it catches and reflects light, creating a subtle sparkle that constantly changes depending on the viewer’s perspective. It allowed me to move beyond representation and into something more expressive, physical, and symbolic.
What does your work aim to say?
My work explores the coexistence of strength and fragility. Qualities that exist within all of us. Glass, as a medium, embodies this contrast perfectly. It is delicate yet resilient, transparent yet powerful, and it mirrors the emotional complexity of the human experience.
Many of my pieces focus on women, identity, and the silent strength carried beneath the surface. I am interested in the stories told through a gaze, a posture, or a moment of stillness. Through the interplay of light, shadow, and texture on glass, I aim to create works that invite reflection and emotional connection.
Ultimately, my art is about resilience, about the beauty that can exist alongside vulnerability. I hope my pieces encourage viewers to pause, feel, and perhaps see parts of themselves within the work.
Where do you find inspiration for your art?
Inspiration comes from people, emotions, and lived experiences. I’m particularly drawn to faces, expressions, and expressive poses — the subtle details that reveal inner worlds. Fashion, photography, and contemporary portraiture have also played a strong role in shaping my visual language.
Beyond visual references, I find inspiration in contrast: fragility and strength, silence and intensity, precision and unpredictability.
Even my background in finance and data science has influenced how I think. It taught me structure, pattern recognition, and discipline — qualities that unexpectedly complement the intuitive nature of my artistic practice.
Often, inspiration arrives quietly. An image, a feeling, or even a fleeting moment can stay with me until it transforms into a piece.
Could you give us some insight into your creative process?
My process begins with an idea or emotional impression rather than a fully formed plan. I spend time studying references and refining the concept, but the actual creation involves a balance between control and surrender.
Working with glass is both physical and meditative. Each mark is intentional, yet the material has its own character. Light becomes an active part of the artwork, constantly changing how the piece is experienced. I build the image gradually, focusing on depth, texture, and the expressive power of the subject.
There is also an analytical side to my approach. I naturally think in layers and structures, carefully considering composition and detail. But at the same time, I allow room for intuition. The process is a dialogue between precision and instinct, between planning and discovery.
What are your future projects?
I am currently focused on expanding my body of work in glass and continuing to refine the language I’ve developed through this medium. I’m interested in exploring new subjects and narratives that push the boundaries of what I’ve done so far.
Additionally, this year I’m planning to create something entirely new — a direction I haven’t explored before. It’s still too early to share details, but I’m hoping to unveil the first piece in the coming months.
Exploring ways to collaborate with brands and businesses, and presenting my work in spaces where light, architecture, and environment can interact with the pieces in meaningful ways, is an important part of my vision.
I’m also interested in exhibiting both nationally and internationally, as I’m drawn to the idea of connecting with audiences across cultures and places. Looking ahead, my goal is to keep evolving, to experiment, take risks, and continue telling stories that resonate on an emotional level.
Interview by Fabio Pariante: X • Instagram • Website