About
About Vali Irina Ciobanu – Visual Artist and Artistic Journey
I am a Romanian visual artist, a full member of the Union of Fine Artists of Romania – Bucharest Painting Branch, with an artistic practice spanning over three decades.
I work in easel painting and mixed media, using acrylic, oil, watercolor, egg tempera, gold and silver leaf, and a range of supports, from canvas and paper to leather, wood, and copper. A distinctive direction in my practice is painting on leather, which I developed by studying historical painting techniques and recipes.
In my recent work, the map has become a recurring element and a tool for exploring identity, memory, belonging, and journey. Portrait, territory, sign, and cultural symbols come together in series such as "Cartographies of Destinies," "Europe Under the Same Sky," "The Sânziene – Daughters of the Sun," and "Bucharest – A City Called HOME."
My work has been shown in exhibitions and artistic projects in Romania and abroad, including in Brussels, Washington D.C., Paris, Venice, Dubai, Montreal, Taipei, Mumbai, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Italy, and North Macedonia.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
University of Bucharest – Faculty of Philosophy Department of History of Culture and Religions Thesis: "Aniconism and the Icon"
Artistic training in the studio of painter Dan Botezan, which I began at the age of 15.
Full member of the Union of Fine Artists of Romania – Bucharest Painting Branch.
EXHIBITIONS
2026
"Cartographies of Destinies" – solo exhibition, Constantin Brâncuși Hall, Palace of the Parliament, Bucharest, July 1–31, 2026; curator Nicoleta Paninopol
"Maps of Power, Maps of the Soul" – duo exhibition with Berat Zulbehari, Calea Victoriei 91–93 Gallery, Bucharest, August 1–16, 2026
MoBU 2026 – International Art Fair – Romexpo, Bucharest, June 3–7, 2026
International Art Symposium – 11th Edition – Struga, North Macedonia, August–September 2026
"Romania From My Soul" – Museikon, Alba Iulia
"Romania From My Soul" – Cluj-Napoca Art Museum
"My Beautiful Romania" – Alfa Gallery, Bacău
"Land of the Pădureni. Memories for the Future" – Galați
"Painting Across District 2" – District 2 City Hall Auditorium, Bucharest
"Brâncuși and His Work" – project presented as part of the Gopo Awards, Bucharest National Theatre
"Recapitulation" – Bucharest University of Economic Studies
2025
"Romania, Beyond Folklore" – European Parliament, Brussels, Belgium
"Bucharest – A City Called HOME" – "Dr. Nicolae Minovici" Museum of Folk Art, Bucharest
"Unspoken Words" – Art Safari, Bucharest
"Reflections" – Sitar Arts Center, Washington D.C., USA
"Beauté vue par les artistes" – Montmartre, Paris, France
"2xLOVE" – Calea Victoriei 91–93 Gallery, Bucharest
"Feminine Art with Vali Irina Ciobanu" – Bucharest Municipality Museum, Suțu Palace
Outdoor exhibition – Filipescu-Cesianu House, Bucharest
"Folk Costume Day and Sânziene" – Golești Museum
"Martha Bibescu" International Art Salon – Brâncoveanu Palace, Mogoșoaia
Medieval Festival – ART4ALL Cultural Center, Bucharest
2024
"Bucharest – A City Called HOME" – Calderon Art Studio, Bucharest
"History and Art" – Palace of the Romanian Patriarchate, Bucharest
"Dowry for the Future" – Ghica House, Bucharest
"Three" – "Ion Mincu" University of Architecture and Urbanism, Bucharest
"Icons of the Times" – Arta Gallery, Câmpulung Muscel
"Constantin Găvenea" National Graphic Arts Biennale – Art Museum, Tulcea
"Weaving Dreams" – Gallery of Arts, National Military Circle, Bucharest
Outdoor exhibition – Bucharest University of Economic Studies
2023
"Wings in Paradise" – Calderon Art Studio, Bucharest
"Dreaming of Summer" – Calderon Art Studio, Bucharest
"Be the Heroine of Your Life!" – Micul Paris Museum, Bucharest
"In Search of Beauty" – "Octavian Moșescu" Art Museum, Râmnicu Sărat
National Art Biennale of the Royal City of Curtea de Argeș
"Flowers" – Rocca Colonna, Castelnuovo di Porto, Italy
"Jewelry and Flowers" – Calderon Art Studio, Bucharest
"Mărțișor – Tradition and Art" – Romanian Cultural Institute, Bucharest
"History and Art" – Știrbey Castle, Sinaia
2022
"Bestiart" – Orizont Gallery, Bucharest
"Artist Medallion" – "Octavian Moșescu" Art Museum, Râmnicu Sărat
"The Wool Spinner" – Bucharest University of Economic Studies
"Characters" – Romania Pavilion, Expo 2020 Dubai, United Arab Emirates
"Brâncuși, My Love" – "Mihai Eminescu" Cultural Center, Bucharest
"Romanian Artists in Venice" – Venice, Italy
2021
"Eclectica" – "Dimitrie Gusti" National Village Museum, Bucharest
"Save the Planet" – Taipei, Taiwan
"Romanian Artists on International Easels" – Venice, Italy
2020
"A Brief Oriental Excursion" – Orizont Gallery, Bucharest
"Hope" – SMD Foundation, Museum Art Gallery, Mumbai, India
"Moșescu Garden" – Râmnicu Sărat
"Coffee Paint" – Pristina, Kosovo
2019
"Celestial, Marine, Telluric" – Qreator, Bucharest
"Summer Solstice" – Gallery 2 Art, Bucharest
"Kleptuza" – Historical Museum, Velingrad, Bulgaria
SELECTED EARLIER EXHIBITIONS
2017 – "Visual Histories Around the World – From Map to Art" – National Museum of Maps and Old Books, Bucharest
2016 – "Pictorial Transfigurations" – Sălciua, Apuseni
2008 – "Peinture" – Montreal, Canada
2007 – "Young Artists in Balchik" – Balchik, Bulgaria
2001 – "Icons on Leather" – Hanul cu Tei, Bucharest
A complete list of exhibitions is available upon request.
AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS
2025 – First Prize, National Art Biennale of the Royal City of Curtea de Argeș, for the work "Under the Same Umbrella," from the series "Bucharest – A City Called HOME"
2019 – Second Prize, Pitturiamo Basilicata, Casa Russa in Basilicata, Italy
2017 – First Prize, "Horse, Pony, Equine," The Art District Competition
2016 – First Place, "Freedom and Horses Competition," FineArtAmerica
PROJECTS AND COLLABORATIONS
National Museum of Maps and Old Books, Bucharest – artistic projects dedicated to the map as a visual medium and language
Cramele Recaș / Regno Recaș – wine label design
La Fântâna – illustration and visual projects for packaging, including projects for National Day and the "Blue Girl" series
Sestina – series of six landscapes for label design, 2023
Center for Japanese Studies – Bucharest University of Economic Studies – mural painting
"Mihai Eminescu" Cultural Center, Bucharest – mural painting and educational projects
ILLUSTRATION AND DESIGN
Book illustrations and covers:
"Brâncuși, My Love!" – Claudia Motea, 2021 "The Book About Acceptance" – Corina Ștefan, 2020 "Where Is My Little House?" – Claudia Marinescu, 2016 "The Antimemoirs of a Muse" – Julia Kalman, 2016 "The Fire Stone" – Kenji Miyazawa, 2004
Music album cover: "Oltre" – Saverio Gramegna, Italy, 2020
TEACHING
Since 2018, I have been the lead painting instructor at the "Mihai Eminescu" Cultural Center in Bucharest.
I coordinate courses, exhibitions, workshops, and art education projects for children and young people.
TECHNIQUES
Oil and acrylic painting; egg tempera; mixed media; painting on leather; watercolor; gold and silver leaf; mural painting; illustration; graphic design.
My work is held in private collections in Romania and abroad.