Solo Exhibition on the Occasion of Romania’s National Day
Date: December 6, 2024
Location: Harbour Hotel, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Organizer: Consulate General of Romania in Dubai

In December 2024, I had the honor of representing Romania with a solo exhibition organized at the invitation of His Excellency Mr. Viorel Badea, Consul General of Romania in Dubai, as part of a festive event dedicated to Romania’s National Day.

The exhibition was hosted by the elegant Harbour Hotel and took place in a high-level diplomatic setting, bringing together ambassadors, government officials, business leaders, and members of the Romanian diaspora from across the United Arab Emirates. It was a special moment in which contemporary Romanian art was celebrated in a multicultural environment.

I presented a selection of works reflecting themes of identity, memory, and visual expressiveness, conveyed through a symbolic and refined visual language. The presence of such a diverse and receptive audience gave the exhibition a unique energy, reaffirming the power of art to create bridges between cultures and people.

This evening was, for me, a harmonious blend of diplomacy, art, and emotion – a luminous memory in my international artistic journey.

Solo Exhibition, November 21, 2023
Organizer: Embassy of Romania in the United Arab Emirates

This solo exhibition was organized by the Embassy of Romania in Abu Dhabi at the invitation of His Excellency, Ambassador Octavian Bădică. The event took place on the occasion of Romania’s National Day, in a high-level diplomatic and cultural context.

The exhibition brought together over 300 distinguished guests—ambassadors, government officials, business leaders, and representatives from the cultural scene of the United Arab Emirates. In this refined setting, I had the honor of representing Romania with a selection of recent works that explore themes such as feminine identity, the strength of fragility, and the symbolic connections between inner and outer worlds.

A particularly special moment for me was the opening of the evening, marked by the piano performance of the national anthems by my son, Ștefan Olteanu Voicu. He also held a musical recital throughout the evening, creating a sensitive and warm atmosphere around the exhibition.

This blending of visual art and music offered a luminous and emotional experience, warmly received by a diverse audience. It was yet another confirmation of the power of art to unite cultures and bring people together through shared emotion and reflection.

Solo Exhibition, July 15 – September 15, 2019

My solo exhibition at Palazzo Duchi di Santo Stefano in Taormina was an artistic experience that brought me great joy. Hosted in a prestigious historical venue during the peak tourist season, the exhibition attracted a large and diverse audience, offering meaningful encounters with art lovers from around the world. The event was widely promoted by Italian cultural institutions in Catania and Taormina, with visibility in numerous public locations.

The exhibition was supported by the Consulate General of Romania in Catania, through the direct involvement of Her Excellency, Consul Carmen Liliana Dinu. Additionally, Dr. Francesca Gullotta, Assesore alla Cultura of Taormina, attended the opening and spoke with sensitivity about my work.

A particularly special moment was the unexpected visit of renowned artist John Legend, who was in Taormina for a concert at Teatro Antico. He entered the gallery discreetly, observed the paintings attentively, and softly hummed some of his own melodies while doing so. The gallery representative on duty, surprised and deeply moved, captured the moment in a photo that remains a cherished memory for me.

International Visual Arts Exhibitions within the International Police Award Arts Festival

Locations:
– 2022: Cinema Teatro Sperimentale, Pesaro
– 2023: Palazzo della Fraternità dei Laici, Arezzo

I had the honor of being officially invited to the 2021 edition of the IPAAF – International Police Award Arts Festival, one of the most prestigious multidisciplinary cultural festivals in Italy. At that time, there was no international visual arts section yet, but following meaningful discussions and suggestions, the festival opened this direction officially in 2022. I was the first Romanian visual artist to exhibit as part of this new international section.

Over the years, IPAAF has hosted prominent cultural and cinematic figures such as Gina Lollobrigida, Ennio Morricone, Albano, Colin Firth, Helen Mirren, Massimo Ranieri, and Vittorio Sgarbi. My presence in this context was a deeply meaningful recognition of my artistic journey and a valuable opportunity to bring Romanian visual expression into a prominent international space.

In 2022, I exhibited at the Cinema Teatro Sperimentale in Pesaro, and in 2023, I returned to the festival with a new exhibition held in the prestigious Palazzo della Fraternità dei Laici in Arezzo. Both exhibitions were well received by the public, and my participation was acknowledged with official diplomas of artistic recognition.

This collaboration with IPAAF represented not only a moment of international visibility but also a bridge of artistic dialogue between Romania and the Italian cultural scene.

Group Exhibition, July 30, 2018
Location: DER KUNSTRAUM, Ringstrassen Galerien, Vienna, Austria

My participation in the Internationale Werkstatt der Bildenden Kunst, held in the elegant DER KUNSTRAUM gallery in Vienna, was a meaningful moment of international artistic connection. The event brought together artists from Romania, Austria, Germany, and Hungary, fostering a fertile ground for exchanging ideas and diverse visual expressions.

For this group exhibition, I presented a series of works rooted in a more abstract direction of my artistic research, inspired by urban textures, architectural structures, and spatial rhythms. These compositions reflected a growing interest in materiality, in the layering of memory across walls, boundaries, and traces of time.

The Viennese public was open and curious, and the dialogue with fellow participating artists brought a fresh and constructive energy. It was an enriching experience that affirmed my belief that art speaks beyond borders and languages.

Solo Exhibition at the Romanian Cultural Institute, Bucharest – June 2019
Location: Main Hall, Romanian Cultural Institute, Aleea Alexandru, Bucharest
Organizer: Romanian Cultural Institute
President of RCI: Mihai Taloș

The exhibition Masks and Marionette Puppets was a representative event in my artistic journey, hosted in the Main Hall of the Romanian Cultural Institute in Bucharest, within a symbolic and elegant setting. It brought together cultural personalities, art critics, and art lovers, marking a special moment in my dialogue with the Romanian public.

I presented a selection of works from the series dedicated to masks and marionette puppets, in a personal pictorial vision that explores theatricality, fragility, and inner expression.

On the occasion of the opening, the leadership of the Romanian Cultural Institute announced its intention to support an international exhibition tour dedicated to my work, which was planned to include London, Paris, Vienna, and Brussels. Unfortunately, this artistic tour could not be realized due to the international context caused by the pandemic.

The event remains a key milestone in my collaboration with the Romanian Cultural Institute and a confirmation of the interest in my artistic and symbolic universe.

Recurring participations during the period 2015-2019

The national project Temeiuri, organized by the Union of Visual Artists of Romania, has been one of the most consistent and prestigious platforms for contemporary visual art. Over the years, I had the honor to participate in several editions of this project, all hosted in the symbolic Constantin Brâncusi Hall of the Romanian Parliament—an emblematic venue for artistic dialogue and national identity.

Among the most representative participations were the 2017 edition Sleep and Dream and the 2019 figurative art selection, but also the thematic exhibitions of 2015 and 2016, where I explored concepts such as identity, transformation, and memory through painting.

Each edition was an opportunity for authentic artistic connection and exchange, bringing together creators and institutions in a space dedicated to cultural legacy and vision.

Solo exhibition, December 6–25, 2022

“Trace of My World” was a milestone event in my artistic journey – a solo exhibition hosted by the Artoteca of the Metropolitan Library of Bucharest, organized by the TotArt Cultural-Artistic Foundation, under the patronage of the Union of Visual Artists of Romania and supported by the City Hall of Bucharest, as part of the Permanent Visual Arts Salon “Temeiuri”.

This exhibition brought together recent paintings charged with energy, symbolism, and expressiveness, widely appreciated for their visual power and the authenticity of my artistic message. It attracted strong media attention and brought me closer to a large, warm, and generous public.

A particularly meaningful moment for me was when H.E. George Calin, Romania’s Cultural Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, awarded me the Apollon Trophy for Culture, Art, and Civilization – a gesture that moved me deeply, honored me, and committed me to continue creating with the same sincerity and dedication to art.

I was honored by the presence of remarkable guests, including H.R.H. Prince Serban Dimitrie Sturdza, H.E. Gabriela Tanasov, Ambassador of North Macedonia, and H.E. George Calin. Their presence was a true gesture of recognition and heartfelt support that strengthened my artistic path.

The opening was led by three highly respected voices of the Romanian art scene: art critic Pavel Susara, art historian Ana Amelia Dinca, and artist-professor Dr. George Radu Serafim, who offered a deep and sincere reading of my work.

“Trace of My World” was a deeply personal exhibition – a heartfelt encounter between art and viewer, one of those rare evenings when I felt that my art genuinely reached the hearts of others.

Group Exhibition, November–December 2018
Location: National Museum of Art of Romania, Bucharest

I had the joy of participating in the National Contemporary Art Salon – Centenary 2018, a prestigious event organized on the occasion of celebrating 100 years since the Great Union. The exhibition was organized by the Union of Visual Artists of Romania, in partnership with the Ministry of Culture and National Identity, bringing together artists selected through a rigorous national jury process.

For me, this participation was a moment of deep honor, as I was part of a framework that celebrated Romanian history, identity, and artistic creation at the highest level. By presenting my works at the National Museum of Art of Romania, along with other representative exhibition spaces in Bucharest, the exhibition achieved national scope and exceptional visibility.

Solo Exhibition at the BABEL International Performing Arts Festival – June 11–19, 2022

“Traces of My World” was a complex exhibition and a special artistic experience in my journey. It took place within the prestigious BABEL International Festival, a renowned theatre event that brought together participants from over 30 countries, hosted in a space filled with symbolism – the foyer of the Tony Bulandra Theatre in Târgoviște.

Alongside the painting exhibition, I created an interactive artistic installation – a mirror labyrinth that incorporated three-dimensional puppet sculptures, inspired by my works. The installation was completed by light displays, video projections (created by Cristi Farcaș), and an original soundtrack composed especially for this project by Balasa Percussion, which enriched the immersive atmosphere of the exhibition.

The purpose of this installation was to create a space for personal reflection, where each visitor could enter – with their own sensitivity – into their inner universe. As they saw themselves reflected in the mirrors, surrounded by puppets, light, and sound, they experienced a unique moment in which the child within encountered the reality of the present in a silent, yet profound dialogue.

The opening was a special moment for me, inaugurated by Mr. Lucian Romașcanu, Minister of Culture, in the presence of distinguished guests and officials, including:

• Corneliu Ștefan – President of the Dâmbovița County Council
• Cristian Daniel Stan – Mayor of Târgoviște
• Claudia Gilia – Prefect of the county
• Radu Popa – Member of Parliament
• Ionuț Săvoiu – Secretary of State
• as well as Dieter Topp and Ana Amelia Dincă, who spoke insightfully and sensitively about my work.

The exhibition was widely appreciated by an international audience, visited by numerous artists, guests, and art lovers from more than 30 participating countries.

For me, this exhibition was a visual confession – about identity, about the traces we leave in the world, about fragility and inner strength. I felt deeply honored and grateful to witness how the public resonated with my message and responded with emotion and openness.