Bela Bodo was born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1936. From a young age, he developed a deep appreciation for art, particularly the statues, paintings, and drawings in his father's studio. His family quickly recognized his exceptional talent and by the age of eight, Bodo had already sold his first painting to a family member. From that moment, he was strongly supported in his artistic endeavors.

Bodo grew up during the turmoil of the Second World War. His father was captured and sent to a Russian prison, and since his mother had passed away when he was only four years old, he was sent to live with his grandmother. Despite these hardships, Bodo managed to help support his family by selling his paintings to soldiers in exchange for food while attending school. “I was one of the few kids who never had to worry about whether I would have lunch,” Bodo recalls.