Homeless Man

When Nyilasi had an art studio on the third floor of a commercial building on King Street East, Hamilton, which overlooked Gore Park, he often observed the people down below in the parkette around the Gore Park fountain or waiting at the bus stops. Homeless people would congregate on the park benches during the day after their morning departure from homeless shelters.

Nyilasi took an interest in this bearded man. He went down to the park and engaged him in conversation. Eventually, he invited him to come up to the art studio and sit for his portrait. He convinced the man by telling him, “Don't sit here on this park bench; come upstairs and sit for me.”

The man returned each time Nyilasi requested a further sitting for this portrait.

oil on canvas

59 x 50 inches

1987

framed

Catalogue No: TNYIL-245