Judy Takács

In 2018 Takács had her two-artist inaugural exhibition with the late Marilyn Szalay at the Artists Archives of the Western Reserve. Takács and Szalay were referred to as “two titans of figurative art” in Cleveland Scene Magazine. The exhibition showed 12 works from each artist and was entitled, "Szalay…Takács…Secrets." The theme for the works included dealt with the concept of hidden meanings in art, some of which go to the grave with the artist.

In 2016 Takács was one of the nine artists, including Stephanie Deshpande, Lauren Tilden, Mario Robinson, and Terry Strickland, who participated in the Emanuel Nine Portrait Project at Principle Gallery, honoring the victims of the Charleston church shooting. She painted a portrait of Rev. Dr. Daniel Simmons Sr.

In 2014, Takács curated Majority Rising for the Artists Archives of the Western Reserve during Women's History Month. Choosing work from Cleveland figurative artists, Shirley Aley Campbell, Kathleen McKenna, Marilyn Szalay, Lee Heinen and Marsha Sweet. Takács painted and exhibited a portrait of each artist as well.

Greed: Guarded Idealist, 2013 Best of Show winner at the Chagrin Valley Art Center Annual Juried Show is inspired by the concept of the Seven deadly sins as human traits necessary for survival. This work portrays “Greed” as the guardian and protector of ones artistic vision and idealism.

In 2009 she began both painting and blogging her project; Chicks with Balls: Judy Takács paints unsung female heroes. For this series, she asked her female friends and family to pose topless, holding balls to symbolize their personal challenges. In 2013, Takács authored and published, Chicks with Balls: Judy Takács paints unsung female heroes. and received an Ohio Arts Council Grant for Individual Artistic Excellence for the series which became a traveling exhibition.

Takács received her BFA in Illustration and Portrait Painting from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 1986. Takács has staged serial projects painting senior citizens and elderly nuns from life. These projects have yielded over fifty paintings, three solo shows, a feature in Anthropology & Aging Quarterly and placements in juried and invitational shows. In 2014 she published a book of these collected portraits of the elderly called, The Age of Adventure.

Judy Takács (born 1962, New York) is a contemporary figurative painter, known for her realistic paintings from her ongoing, traveling portrait series, Chicks with Balls: Judy Takács paints unsung female heroes. “Takács is a figurative artist who tells stories about people who have something uplifting to share.” She is an elected member of, and past Social Media Chair for Allied Artists of America. She is past Social Media Chair and Literature Committee writer for the Cecilia Beaux Forum of the Portrait Society of America. In 2018, Takács was elected to membership in the Salmagundi Art Club and the Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club in New York City. She holds Signature Status with American Women Artists and Akron Society of Artists. She lives and works in Solon, Ohio.