Attila Hejja
Attila Hejja's distinguished career spanned more than 30 years. His illustrations were bold, dynamic, and arrestingly beautiful. The world quickly took notice of his artistic genius creating commissioned paintings for world-class corporations, business and industry international campaigns, magazine and book covers, and television commercials. He was an official artist commissioned by the U.S. Air Force, United Nations, and the U.S. Postal Service, for which he produced a collection of commemorative stamps. Mr. Hejja was very proud of having been an official NASA artist, recording timeless depictions of the historic Space Shuttle Program in award-winning eyewitness portrayals. He also designed the first Star Trek movie poster for Paramount Pictures. Furthermore, his work appeared on more than 75 book covers for major publishers including Simon and Schuster and Random House. Mr. Hejja's work has been displayed internationally as well as in every major American museum, the NASA Museum, and the Pentagon.
Attila was born in 1954, in Budapest, Hungary, and immigrated to the United States with his family in 1956. At age 16, he became the apprentice of Harold Stevenson, who had been the protégé of Norman Rockwell. Harold Stevenson was like a second father to Attila, and their work together was a defining point in Mr. Hejja's life, as art became the passion of his life, and Stevenson's personal life example became Attila's constant guide. Attila often spoke of this mentor and father figure with great love and deep appreciation. When Harold Stevenson passed away, Attila resolved to honor Stevenson's legacy. In only three years, Attila Hejja reached that goal, offering a classical art education in the tradition of 19th century European art academies. Attila brought in a faculty of professional working artists in such disciplines as drawing, painting, sculpture, pottery, and poetry. Mr. Hejja attracted a large body of students whom he taught with generosity, deep kindness and uncompromising standards and dedication.
His own words were, "If you have a sincere love of art and you're willing to roll up your sleeves and work, the skills we teach will help you produce surprisingly beautiful results." Indeed, the work his students produced - even those with no prior training - was extraordinary across the board, and something Mr. Hejja took deep pride in. With Attila Hejja, no student willing to work was left behind. Under his steady guidance and patronage, The Stevenson Academy has thrived and grown and now serves a student body of more than 300 adult and high school students. In addition the Academy has become a graceful haven for all the arts - sponsoring community programs in art, music, and literature.
Attila Hejja, prominent nationally recognized artist and Director of The Stevenson Academy of Fine Arts, died unexpectedly of natural causes, on August 25, 2007 in Oyster Bay. He was 52. He was known as a consummate gentleman, an artistic genius, a man of generous spirit, loving and selfless for everyone he encountered. He has left an abiding legacy, and will be deeply missed by all whose lives he touched.
Attila Hejja is an artist whose work eludes categorization. This Hungarian born painter applies to his canvas a feeling of intense drama and a sense of presence that is characteristic in all of his works. Although he is well known for his aerospace paintings for the U.S. Air Force, NASA, and corporate clients, Attila's versatility is reflected in work commissioned by a variety of clients. He is currently a cover artist for Popular Mechanics, and his art appears in the pages and on the covers of most major publications nationwide.
Recently, the United Nations Postal Administration, the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs honored Attila by selecting his phenomenal painting Earth Light for the World Federation of United Nations Associations first day cover and limited edition art print, as well as his visionary design of the three United Nations Stamps.
Attila's paintings are displayed in both private and public collections worldwide, and have been exhibited in the Kennedy's Space Center Museum Pentagon's Documentary Art Collection, the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and in traveling exhibits throughout Europe and Japan.
His early training includes nearly four years of concentrated study with Harold Stevenson, a student of Norman Rockwell. Honors received by the illustrator include the 1985 Hamilton King Award for illustration, the highest award offered in America, as well as a Gold Medal from the Society of Illustrators for best illustrated art, a Gold Medal from the prestigious Hudson Valley Art Association and Distinction by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for his contributions to the NASA art program.
