3…2..1! Never too early to prepare

Alexandru Burlacu

Alexandru Burlacu (b. 1993, Iași) is a graduate of the National College of Art “Octav Băncilă” Iași (2012) and of the National University of Arts “George Enescu” Iași (2015), with a master’s degree in the field of sculpture, at the same university (2017). A dynamic presence in the local and national artistic life, he participated in dozens of creative camps, salons, exhibitions, some of his works being awarded and retained in public spaces, private collections or art museums in Bucharest, Iași, Timișoara, Vaslui, etc. Awarded two consecutive years with the “Atelier 35” prize (Iași, 2018, 2019), he was also present at “Art Safari” (Bucharest, 2019) and in Timisoara he obtains the 3rd prize at the International Sculpture Symposium for young artists (“Stone Residence Prize”, 2017).

Winner of the Union of Visual Artists in Romania “Dan Hatmanu” Scholarship (becoming a full member of the artist union since 2020), he was given the chance to work in the studio of the late dean of the artists from Iasi, but with frequent trips in the territory – especially for the project “Via Transilvanica”, to which he is a major contributor.

Aris Tureac

Aris Tureac, born in 1994 in Buzău, Romania, began his artistic studies in 2009 at the „Margareta Sterian” Art High School in his hometown of Buzău, specializing in sculpture, after which in between 2014-2017 continuing his studies at the Faculty of Arts and Design of the National University of Art „George Enescu” in Iasi, under the guidance of professor dr. Ioan Pricop. In 2019 he obtained his master’s degree in painting from the same university, and in 2020 he became a member of the Union of Visual Artists in Romania, Iași branch.

Over the years, working as a visual artist, he has participated in numerous personal and group exhibitions in Iasi, Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca and Buzau, having also received awards for his artistic work.

His personal thoughts are that: „Every man goes through a transformation, through a transition…for each it is a different word. I only chose the ones with T or T chose me. I’m not the man who talks openly about himself. I’m not good with words. My words are the personal things I like to keep in different boxes or express them back on canvas. I’m just documenting a part of myself. I know that one day my works will be more appreciated, more understood. We are all in a constant transformation…I would have said Evolution, but it does not start with T. I know that one day, people like me are going to wonder, they’re probably gonna laugh why they used ‘then’, now. As I said, we are in a constant transformation.

Although it is difficult in some aspects, it is a privilege to have such a story. Plasters, syringes, ampoules, scotch tape, charcoal, boxes, moldings, installations and carefully selected figures are the elements that I integrate into my work. And everything is authentic, each work being from a certain stage of my life.

Stages of:

Transformation…Transition.

For me, it is also with Testosterone.”

Camelia Skikos

Camelia Skikos is a conceptual fashion designer and artist born in Iasi, Romania. She lives and works in San Francisco, US. Her work stems from a continuing fascination with the way clothing can make an impact on our lives, based on the unconscious relations between the human being and the clothing we wear.

After completing a degree in Art and Fashion Design at the University of Art „George Enescu” in Iasi, Camelia Skikos moved to London, UK where she further defined her art and fashion studies while working as a fashion designer andillustrator for various British brands.

In 2003 she relocated to San Francisco, US, where she accepted a position as a Head Designer at Levi Strauss. While designing and consulting for different fashion and wearable tech companies such as Levi`s & Google, she wasalso teaching Fashion Design and Illustration at the Academy of Art University.

In 2010 Camelia launched her own conceptual fashion label and the following year, she won the San Francisco Fashion Award for Best Women`s Wear Designer. She continues to teach and collaborate with other artists whiledeveloping her own brand as a creative playground to explore new aesthetic boundaries.

She participated in solo and group shows in Iasi, Bucharest, London, San Francisco & New York. Her work wasfeatured in multiple publications such as Vogue UK, Vogue Italy, Vogue Japan, Elle, Los Angeles Times, San FranciscoMagazine, L’ Officiel, WWD.

Her most recent personal exhibition “Imago” took place in New York at the Romanian Cultural Institute`s GalleryBrancusi. The most recent group exhibition “Integrations” is taking place at Tides Foundation Gallery in San Francisco.

Claudiu Ciobanu

Claudiu Ciobanu (b. 1984; lives and works in Iași) is a figurative painter whose recent works are a remarkable testament to the artist’s unique vision and acute awareness of contemporary issues.

Claudiu Ciobanu is part of the young generation of artists from Iași, having graduated from the Faculty of Visual Arts and Design at “George Enescu” National University of Arts in Iași. He pursued painting studies through the Erasmus program at the University of Salamanca, Spain, where he discovered experimental painting and drawing techniques. His studies in Spain culminated in an exhibition project of drawings which was subsequently selected in 2009 for the Young Romanian Art 10 exhibition, “Slightly bored”, curated by Mircea Nicolae at Galeria Nouă, Romanian Cultural Institute in Venice.

He has participated in various national and international projects, exhibiting in Poland, Israel, Washington, Berlin, and Vienna. In 2022, he presented SOLARIS at Artep Gallery, an art installation curated by Cristian Nae, and in 2023, Memento Vivere, an art exhibition curated by Cristiana Ursache hosted at the Romanian Cultural Institute in Vienna.

“Through my paintings, I aim to challenge viewers to reflect on our future and how we must act today to protect and preserve this wonderful world for future generations.”

Felix Aftene

FELIX AFTENE lives and works in Iași but he has a sustained artistic activity on the national and international scene in various media – painting, sculpture, mural painting, new media. In 1996, he graduated as head of promotion from the “George Enescu” Academy of Arts in Iași, Mural Painting section. Between the years 2013 and 2023 he is president of the Iași Branch of the Union of Visual Artists in Romania (UAPR). In 2016 he obtained his doctorate in visual arts at the National University of Arts “George Enescu” in Iasi with a work dedicated to contemporary visual arts. He has had over 40 personal exhibitions in museums or international art galleries in the country and Austria, USA, Great Britain, Greece, Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy, Spain, Canada, Denmark, Hungary, Israel, Moldova. In 2016, he was awarded by the Union of Visual Artists in Romania (UAPR) the National Prize for Painting and received over 40 other awards and distinctions for his artistic activity nationally and internationally.

Gabriel Caloian

GABRIEL CALOIAN was born on January 21, 1979 in Buzau. He lives and works in Iasi. He graduated in 2008 from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Decorative Arts and Design, Iasi, Graphics department, and in 2010 he recieved the Graphics Master’s degree, from the same faculty. Since 2009, he is a member of the Union of Visual Artists in Romania, Iași branch. Since 2017, a member of the ”Five̛ Ơ Shock” group, along with artists Radu Carnariu and Larissa Danilov.

He is a laureate of the National Prize for Graphics awarded by the Union of Visual Artists in Romania (2020) and has had numerous personal exhibitions, including: ”Survivor Dance”, Senso Gallery, Bucharest (2021); ”Morcovid”, Dana Art Gallery, Iasi (2020); Personal graphic exhibition within the National Architecture Biennale, National Museum of Romanian Literature Iasi (2018); Personal graphic exhibition, Galleries Grand Hotel Traian Iasi (2018); ”Deconectat”, personal graphic exhibition, Artyourself Gallery, Bucharest (2014); ”Deconectat”, personal drawing exhibition, „N.Tonitza” Art Gallery, Iasi (2013).
He also participated in the following projects ”Five̛ Ơ Shock”: Art Safari, Heroes/Antiheroes section, Intestina Art Gallery, Bucharest (2021); ”Războilor”, Drosu Art Gallery, Iasi (2019); ”Imaginary Museum of Communism”, Romania, Meru Gallery, Iasi (2018); ”Intestina Gallery”, Meru, Iasi (2018). He is also the author of monumental works such as: Mural, Club Meru Iasi, co-authored with Radu Carnariu and Larissa Danilov (2018); mural painting, 30m², Red Point Software Solution Iasi, Red Point, co-author with Radu Carnariu (2010); Mural painting, 40m², Club Hand, Iasi (2008).

Gheorghe Lungu

Gheorghe Lungu was born on December 12, 1948, in Stefanesti, Botosani County, Romania. In 1966 he took the baccalaureate exam at the ”Vasile Alecsandri” High School in Iași. He Graduated ”Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University from the same locality. In 1970 he debuted in the group exhibition in the Hall of Lost Steps in Iași. He is a member of the Union of Visual Artists in Romania. Gheorghe Lungu holds several awards: Award for Painting, Artis annual Art Salon; Diploma of Excellence, U.A.P.R. Iasi, Artis Salon, XIII-th edition; Special Award for the album ”Lightlight”, International Romanian Book Salon, XVII-th edition, Iasi; Diploma of Excellence, U.A.P.R. Iasi, Artis Salon, XI-th edition.

Leontin Paun

Leontin Paun, born in 1978 in Râmnicu Sărat, is a visual artist with a remarkable career in the field of fine arts. Currently, he works as a university lecturer at the Sculpture Department of the “George Enescu” University of Arts in Iași, Romania, serving as a dedicated mentor for young artists embarking on their journey into the world of contemporary art.

Paun is not confined by geographical boundaries but shares his talent and artistic vision worldwide. He has exhibited his works in France, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Turkey, the USA, Romania, Austria, Switzerland, and many other countries, captivating audiences and art critics with the expressiveness and depth of his creations.

As an artist, Paun tackles fundamental themes of human existence, such as life, death, birth, and transitions, exploring the psychological narrative deeply ingrained in the collective subconscious. Through his sculptures, paintings, and drawings, he prompts the viewer to ponder and explore essential aspects of the human condition, transcending the visible surface and touching upon deep emotional chords.

With the diversity and depth of his creations, Leontin Paun has become a prominent figure in the contemporary artistic landscape, appreciated not only for his technical skill but also for the philosophical and emotional content of his work.

Marinela Ciobanu

Marinela Ciobanu (b. 1984) works and lives in Iasi and focuses in her artistic practice on capturing the present moment and exploring themes such as identity, intimacy and our relationship with immediate reality. Through her art, she reflects on contemporary reality and its challenges. Her works render her own fragility and are a testimony to the present moment in an increasingly agitated and difficult world to explore. Although the connection between humans and nature seems to fade, she still finds ways to weave them into her art.
Her paintings are an eloquent example of curiosity and a desire to understand the world around her. Her creations challenge the viewer to experience moments of introspection and self-discovery, to ask questions about their place in the world and their relationship with others. Her works are characterized by delicacy and subtlety.

She graduated in 2007 from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Decorative and Design, Painting department, from the University of Arts „George Enescu” in Iasi. In 2009, she obtained her master’s degree in Fine Arts from the same University. In 2006, she participated with an Erasmus scholarship at the Universidad de Salamanca, Spain. She is a member of the Union of Visual Artists in Romania, Iași branch since 2007.
With multiple awards at the visual art salons in Romania, she has exhibited her works in numerous solo and group exhibitions, both in Romania and abroad, and her art has been featured in various publications and online platforms.

Smaranda Bostan

Smaranda Bostan (b. 1984, lives and works in Iași), with a bachelor’s degree in Decorative Arts, is a versatile and multi-purpose visual artist who touches uppon different artistic mediums in her creation process, such as painting, collage, graphic design, contemporary jewlery and even art installation.

In addition to her creative activities, she is the curator of over 70 artistic projects that have taken place at „Dana” Art Gallery in Iași and simultaneously she is a mentor towards several generations of students who graduated from the Pedagogy of Fine and Decorative Arts department of the Faculty of Visual Arts and Design within the National University of Arts “G. Enescu” in Iași.
Her works of art have been showcased in both solo and collective exhibitions such as: „Ethereal” (solo), „Th. Pallady” Art Gallery in Iasi; „De(spre)colaj – RECONFIGĂRĂRI” (collective), KARO Galleries, Bacau, 2023; „Around the square. A thousand views on identity” (collective), Duke Hall Gallery of Fine Art, James Madison University, USA, 2022; „Incadescent” (collective), National Museum of the Romanian Peasant, Bucharest, 2022; „Colivia” – installation, made within „Afterhills” Music and Arts Festival, 2019; „Art Walk Street AWS 2019”, Revolution Square, Bucharest.

Valentina Druțu

Valentina Druțu, cultural manager and visual artist, lives and works in Iași, carrying out a sustained and varied activity on the national and international scene of visual arts. The artist has achieved numerous exhibitions, displaying a rich artistic activity, especially in the field of painting and interior design.
Graduate of the National Academy of Arts “G. Enescu” Iași, class of 1995, in professor Liviu Suhar’s class, since 1996 she became a member of the Union of Visual Artists in Romania, Iași branch, and in 2006 a member of the Board of Directors of UAPR Iaşi. Since 1995 she has been working as a museographer at the Museum of Art within the National Museum Complex “Moldova” Iasi, becoming the museum director during the period of 2007-2021, returning to the position of museographer starting from 2024 until present day.

Between December 7th 2021 – January 25th 2024 she held the position of manager within the same institution and during the same year completed her doctoral studies at the National University of Arts “G. Enescu” Iași, in visual arts, with the honor of MAGNA CUM LAUDE.
In the fields of painting and interior design, she is one of the most representative artists of her generation, with art works displayed in museums and private collections in the country and abroad (USA, Great Britain, Greece, Germany, France, Italy, Holland, Sweden).

Vladlen Babcinețchi

Born in the Republic of Moldova in 1983, sculptor Vladlen Babcinetchi captures the contemporary artistic landscape through the tenacity in which he approaches universal themes. This is brought to light through a unique language, rooted strongly in the turmoil of his birthplace. He studied in Iasi, and it was here during high school that he began his journey as an artist and sculptor, completing his bachelor and master programme at the National University of Arts George Enescu in Iași. During his doctorate he received an internship in Riga, Latvia and finally a Postdoctoral fellowship at Akaki Tsereteli University in Kutaisi, Georgia.

In the field of sculpture, he experiments with new techniques and his own language of creation, which he has exhibited to the public in Chișinau, Iași, Cluj, Bucharest, and Lisbon, being the author of many public art pieces displayed in Romania, Italy, Republic of Moldova, Russia, Israel and Palestine. The strength and energy with which he approaches his monumental works makes this field the artist’s main vocation. His monuments, such as of Ștefan Cel Mare, in Tomești, Romania, and of the poet Ovidiu, found in the city bearing his name, showcase his talent as a composer and creator of timeless spaces filled with symbolism. Vladlen Babcinețchi lives and creates in Iași, Romania. He is also an art consultant for SHARE Arts&Crafts.