Istvan Nyikos

Born in Hungary, later became Canadian citizen in the 1960's. Started painting while studying German Literature and Philosophy at the U. of Toronto. After graduation he enrolled in the Florence program at the Ontario College of Art. After graduating from Ontario College, he received grant from the Greensheilds Foundation to travel and study in Europe. He has painted commissioned portraits in England, Germany, Spain and U.S. Prices range from 10K to 30K.

Saddle and Sirloin Club

A series of biographical sketches of the 347 personalities honored by having their portraits hung in the Saddle and Sirloin gallery at the Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville, Kentucky. The collection remembers the 347 leaders who have made major contributions to the livestock industry. Founded in 1903 and continues to this day, the portrait gallery is the largest collection of quality portraits by noted artists in the world devoted to a single industry.

All of the portraits hanging in the Club at the time of the 1934 Chicago Stock Yards fire were destroyed. Within a week after the fire, Fredrick H. Prince, the chairman of the Union Stock Yards and Transit Company, commissioned Robert F. Grafton (also in the UM collection) to begin repainting the portraits lost. In 18 months, before his death, he completed a total of 164. Othmar Hoffler (Also in the UM collection) was selected to succeed him as the official artist of the Club. Other artists whose portrait works are represented in the gallery include Joseph Allworthy, Arvid Nyholm, Benjamin Kanne and Ernest Klempner. More recently portraits by Raymond Kinstler, Tom Orlando, Tom Phillips, Stewart Halstead, Walter Wilson, Richard Halstead, James Fox, John Boyd Martin and Istvan Nyikos have been added.