Márton Szakács is a traditional saddle maker and painting restoration expert working at the intersection of museum conservation and historical craftsmanship. Trained at the Hungarian University of Fine Arts, he combines expertise in art history and materials with a commitment to preserving and reinterpreting traditional Hungarian saddle-making.
Márton currently serves as a restorer at the Christian Museum in Esztergom, home to the largest ecclesiastical collection in Hungary. Across his restoration work and independent practice, Márton is dedicated to documenting and passing on traditional techniques, ensuring their continuity as living traditions.
As a recipient of the 2026 Réka Darida Legacy Award, Márton will create a historically inspired saddle and cover reflecting the forms and motifs of the Ottoman frontier era. Drawing on Tiszafüred saddle-making traditions and collaboration with master craftsmen, the work honors Hungary’s equestrian heritage.
