The graphic artist Kékesi László was born on 17th September in Szarvas. He attended primary and secondary schools in Szarvas, Pécel and Sárospatak. He went to the Collage of Applied Arts of Budapest in 1939 and received his diploma from the design department in 1942. His teachers were: Haranghy Jenő, Domanovszky Endre and Stein János.

After graduation, he worked on the field of ecclesiastic art. His frescos, glass windows and graffitos can be found in 36 churches in Hungary, among them a few are Hatvan, Szentes, Simontornya, Acsalag, Kisnána, Győrszentiván and Szécsény.

After 1945, he was involved in applied graphics. He developed his skills on the field of drawing and graphics. He worked for the money press as a graphic artist from 1956-1980, until his retirement.

From 1960, he was involved in national and international stamp design. He designed 226 Hungarian and around 500 foreign stamps. He favored engraving and sections. Three times, he won the prize for the best artwork on sport (1963, 1965, 1966) and won the Silver Lance prize for the best sports stamp.

In 1989, he won the badge for the nicest stamp of the year" with his series titled "In Memoriam the Martyrs of Arad". In 1991, he received the pro urbe prize from the Self-government of the Town of Szarvas.

He was an internationally known ex libris designer. His works were shown at several exhibition s abroad (Leipzig, Párizs, Krakow, Hamburg etc.). His book illustrations are known mostly by those who love mini books: Brodarics History of the Battle of Mohácsi, Heltay Gáspár Szász Fabule, The History of the Emperor Poncian, Zrínyi Miklós`s The Pervil of Sziget etc.

His inheritors donated his inheritance to the town of Simontornya in 1998.