First he studied law, then attended the Pattern Drawing School and Károly Kernstok's Independent School. Between 1917 and 1922 he trained at the Academy of Fine Arts under Ede Balló. He worked in Paris in the twenties and in Nagybánya in about 1930, then from 1932 onwards he painted in Szentendre. Before actually settling down in Szentendre in 1935, he lived in Kunhegyes and in Budapest. He was a member of KUT and UME.
Bibliography: KAMPIS, Antal: Ilosvai Varga István, (A Művészet Kiskönyvtára, 120), Budapest, Corvina, 1978. o CSAPÓ, György: Ilosvai Varga I., Budapest, Képzôművészeti Alap, 1981. o Ilosvai Varga István emlékezete, ed. BIHARI, József, Szentendre, Ilosvai Varga Istvánné publ. by., 1994.