József Koncz was born on 22 April 1922 in the village of Belsőbőcs. He attended school in Külsőbőcs, then the Lévay Grammar School in Miskolc. During his grammar school years his art teacher, Zsigmond Imrech, noticed his talent. Zsigmond enrolled him the National Drawing Contest announced for student of secondary schools where Koncz excelled. He was accepted to the Academy of Fine Arts in Budapest where he was an excellent student and received scholarship.

However, he had to postpone his studies due to WWII. In 1943-1945 he was taken captive. After returning home, he continued his studies tutored by Rezső Burghardt, Róbert Berény, László Bencze, István Szőnyi, János Kmetty and Jenő Elekfy. He was believed to become successful. His masters saw his talent in applying and choosing colour, his ease, his artistic taste. These really characterised the art of József Koncz.

He began his career as a secondary school teacher. He first appeared on the fine art scene in Győr, then Sátoraljaújhely and Miskolc. Wherever he went he did something valuable. He set up art groups, study circles, painters’ circles and various communities of fine artists that worked with success. He taught the duality of work and talent to his students. These are characteristics of his artworks even today.