His name may be a mouthful, but boy, oh, boy, Norbert Szilagyi’s whimsical tropical paintings sure are easy to digest!

The first time Norbert put his brush to work in Key West was thirty years ago when he painted over a battered city bench. His colorful mural was the “Talk of Old Town” and garnered lots of “ooohs and ahhhs” from everyone who passed by. Well, almost everybody. The local cops were not at all amused and immediately slapped Norbert with a citation for vandalism. Luckily for Norbert, City officials had a better idea. They dismissed the charge and asked the renegade artist to paint more benches. The incident ignited a wave of interest in the Keys’ “Art in Public Places” movement. It also cemented Norbert’s reputation as a “disruptive force” in the local island art scene.

Today, Norbert’s whimsical art continues to enthrall people of all ages. Bold and bright, his work spans all mediums — from paintings and sculptures to high gloss house paint on wood. Whatever form or direction this joyful artist takes, it is always unmistakably “Norbert.”

Norbert’s signature style is a melange of high-tuned colors, heavy outlines, and a flattened picture plane. Displayed in decoratively hand-painted frames, his playful pieces are reminiscent of classic folk art. However, Norbert prefers to call his work “tropical primitivism.”

If you’ve never had an opportunity to see any of Norbert Szilagyi’s unique work, now’s your chance to see more than forty of these amazing pieces.

“Monkey in Paradise: A Norbert Szilagyi Retrospective” is being exhibited from November 1 through January 26, 2025, at the Key West Museum of Art & History. This special retrospective, which celebrates one of Key West’s most beloved artists, showcases Norbert’s vacillating development and bridges his acclaimed metal sculptures and early paintings with his latest body of work.

The exhibit kicks off with a complimentary opening reception on November 1 from 5 – 7 pm and will be on display daily from 10 am – 5 pm at the Key West Museum of Art & History, 281 Front Street. More info at 305-295-6616; kwahs.org.