Alexandre Trauner (1906-1993)

Visual artist, graphic artist, costume designer, set designer. From 1924, he is a student of István Csók in the painting faculty at the Hungarian Academy of Fine Arts. In 1925, together with his friends (Béla Hegedűs, György Kepes, Dezső Korniss, Ernő Schubert, Béla Veszelszky, Lajos Vajda), he establishes the progressive youth group. In 1928, he joins the Munka-kör [Work Circle] led by Lajos Kassák, then moves to Paris, and alongside painting, turns to filmmaking, as well. From 1937, he fills the leading scenographer’s position for the films of Jacques Prévert and Marcel Carné. From 1958, in Hollywood, he works with Orson Welles, Billy Wilder, and Fred Zinnemann, among others. In 1960, he receives an Oscar for the scenography of The Apartment by Billy Wilder. In 1975, he returns to Europe, where he designs sets for the films of John Huston, Joseph Losey, Peter Sellers, Bertrand Tavernier, and Luc Besson.