Celebrating the Life and Art of Laurie Szilvagyi

“I find intrigue and beauty in anything that has age and character. I enjoy searching for these unusual objects which are often the subject-matter for my artwork.” Artist Statement from Laurie’s blog, “Szilvagyi – Art on the Easel”

We are deeply saddened to share with our artistic community that our beloved friend and colleague, Laurie Szilvagyi, has passed away. Laurie was a truly inspirational artist, teacher, mentor, and generous creative spirit whose life was marked by adventurous curiosity, uncommon warmth, and an enduring devotion to art. This page is offered in loving tribute to her memory: a gathering of images, words, and reflections that honor not only the paintings she created, but the extraordinary presence she brought to the lives of those around her. As an artist, Laurie found beauty in both the deceptively mundane and the quietly mysterious, revealing character, story, and dignity in the subjects she chose. As a friend and mentor, she helped others find confidence, joy, and purpose in their own creative journeys. Her influence continues through her work, through the many students and artists she encouraged, and through the creative community she helped build and inspire.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, Laurie Szilvagyi earned her degree in Psychology from the University of Texas and brought creativity, intelligence, and warmth to every chapter of her life. Before retiring to Rarity Bay with her beloved husband, Michael, Laurie built a distinguished career at DTE Energy, where her creative problem-solving and leadership earned her several professional certifications, including the distinction of becoming the first woman at DTE to receive Six Sigma Certification.

In retirement, Laurie devoted herself deeply to art, teaching, travel, family, and community. She and Michael designed and built their French-inspired home in Rarity Bay, including the studio where Laurie taught drawing and painting to many students. A true Francophile, Laurie loved travel, cooking, and gathering beauty from the world around her. Her passion for art brought her numerous honors, including the Grumbacher Gold Medallion in Watercolor, Signature Membership in the Tennessee Watercolor Society, and memberships in the International Guild of Realism and Oil Painters of America. She also served as President of the Art Guild of Tellico Village.

Laurie faced cancer for three years with incredible courage, dignity, and grace. She is survived by her loving husband, Michael; her children, Derek, Erin, and Shannon; her grandchildren; extended family; and the many friends, students, and artists whose lives were brightened by her generosity, determination, and joyful creative spirit.

Dear Laurie,

I have been trying to find the right words, though I suspect the right words for a loss like this are always just beyond reach. Still, I have decided to share my thoughts in this way to honor you as best I can—not only as a gifted artist, but as a dear friend, a generous spirit, and one of those rare people whose presence made the world feel more alive, more welcoming, and more worth attending to.

You once wrote that you found “intrigue and beauty in anything that has age and character.” That feels so deeply true of your work, but also of the way you moved through life. You had a gift for noticing what others might overlook. In your hands, gathered fragments of the world became more than subjects. They became invitations: to look longer, to care more deeply, and to recognize that beauty often waits patiently inside the ordinary. That sensibility was one of your great strengths as an artist. But it was also one of your great strengths as a person. You saw value in people and, without hesitation, made room for them. You encouraged growth, curiosity, and courage. You understood that art is not merely something we make, but something we share: a language of attention, devotion, and connection.

I will always be grateful for the role you played, along with Diane and Deb, in founding our annual workshop event. What began through your vision, energy, and commitment has continued to become a meaningful force for dedicated artists year after year. It is impossible for me to run that workshop without feeling the imprint of your generosity and enthusiasm. Your belief in learning, in community, and in the serious pursuit of artistic excellence remains present in every conversation, every critique, every breakthrough, and every moment when an artist discovers that they are capable of seeing more clearly than they did before.

That is part of your legacy, Laurie. Not only the paintings, though they are beautiful. Not only the honors, exhibitions, and memberships, though they speak to your discipline and achievement. Your legacy is also in the confidence you helped awaken in others. It is in the students you welcomed into your studio. It is in the friends who felt steadier, brighter, and more inspired because of you. It is in the laughter, the warmth, the get-it-done determination, the love of travel, the love of France, the love of Michael and your family, and the unmistakable joy you brought into every room you entered.

Your most recent works seem especially poignant now. There is something profoundly moving in knowing that your last completed painting carried the spirit of resilience beneath the Wolf Moon. It feels, somehow, like a final statement without needing to announce itself as one.

I wish there had been more time. More conversations. More workshops. More paintings. More chances to watch your enthusiasm catch fire around an idea and then become action. But I also know that a life is not measured only by its length. It is measured by the force of its presence, by the care it leaves behind, and by the ways it continues to move through others after a person is gone.

By that measure, Laurie, you remain powerfully here.

You are present in the artists you inspired. You are present in the tradition that you helped bring into being. You are present in the people who loved you, laughed with you, learned from you, and were changed by your kindness. You are present in the beautiful evidence of your hand, your eye, and your heart.

Thank you for your friendship. Thank you for your example. Thank you for reminding us that age and character are not things to be passed over, but things to be cherished. Thank you for helping build something that continues to serve artists with seriousness, warmth, and purpose.

You will be dearly missed, Laurie. And you will be remembered with deep affection, enduring gratitude, and great respect.

With love and admiration,

Anthony

Art was one of Laurie’s great passions. Throughout her artistic journey, she continually sought opportunities to learn, grow, and share her knowledge with others. Her dedication to her craft earned numerous honors, including the Grumbacher Gold Medallion in Watercolor. She was a Signature Member of the Tennessee Watercolor Society and a member of both the International Guild of Realism and Oil Painters of America. She also served as President of the Art Guild of Tellico Village.

Demonstrating her skill and dedication to the watercolor medium, Laurie’s “Grapes on Foil” was selected for inclusion in the Tennessee Watercolor Society’s 2022 Biennial Exhibition, one of only 60 works chosen from 192 submissions.

*“Henri and the Dirty Dozen”*, *Oil on Panel*

The inspiration for “Henri and the Dirty Dozen” came when Laurie paired a book on Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec with eleven old paintbrushes and a palette knife she had saved over the years. The worn brushes, inherited from a fellow artist who had passed away, inspired a narrative connection to Toulouse-Lautrec and the artistic world of the Moulin Rouge.

“Lobo” was Laurie’s final completed painting, created as a commissioned work. Inspired by the legendary New Mexico wolf known for its strength, intelligence, and resilience, the painting serves as both a wildlife portrait and a personal tribute. Illuminated by the light of the Wolf Moon, the work reflects themes of leadership, endurance, and enduring connection.

“She spoke…with excitement about the wolf painting she had just completed and the unveiling she was planning. That celebration became yet another reflection of her creativity and her love of life.” -Thomas Nash

“Her enthusiasm for everything around her: painting, travel to France (she was a true Francophile), Michael, and her children, was so infectious, nothing stood in her way. When she had an idea in her head, it was always ‘get-it-done’.” -Deborah Kommalan