Balázs János was born in Alsókubin on 27, November 1905. His grandfather and father were famous gipsy first violin players. He moved to Salgótarján at age 5 with his family.

He only finished two grades in the local primary school. However, he studied by himself by reading a lot. He worked all through his life from age 10. He collected wood, mushrooms in the forest, selected coal from stone, and worked every now and again to help his family.

He realized what the world was under tragic circumstances: in the war. He was transferred to the front at age 37 where he served under the troopers no. 23. He spent three long years in captivity after which he returned home at age 43. He never left Salgótarján again. He lived there alone in solitude.

His home was a shack on the Gypsy hill in Pécskő Street. It was also the location where his genius art was born. Hundreds of poems and paintings were born in the little home. He began to regularly do art at age 63. He worked in the next 8 years. His work was only stopped by his illness. He died on 18, March 1977 in Salgótarján.

Looking at the artworks of the exhibition, we almost feel at home in the house of Balázs János in Pécskő Street. It is the world of a unique artist. This art that set traditions preserves a unique place among the European culture of gypsies, as well as modern painting.

143 manuscripts, paintings, drawings, photos and personal objects of Balázs János are displayed at the memorial exhibition selected from the material of the Institution of Hungarian Culture, Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Ministry of Education, th eprivare colectors dr. Vajda Róbert, Botos Mihály, Földi Péter, Décsey Ferenc, Varga-Balázs Vilmos. More than a hundred pages may be read of the poems and confessions of Balázs János.

The exhibition opening on 17, May at 11 was supported by the Town of Salgótarján on the 25th anniversary of the death of Balázs János in honor of the 80-year old town.