Artist Statement & Biografie
Roots and Simplicity: Between Aden and Bucharest
I was born in Bucharest, Romania, in 1981, but spent my childhood in Aden, Yemen, until the age of 14. To this day, I carry in my heart a deep longing for Yemen—for a life lived in absolute harmony with nature.
There, everything was distilled down to the bare essentials: fresh food, minimal packaging, and a fascinating simplicity. My toys were a few perfectly rounded white stones, and my bare feet constantly felt the heat of the burning sand. Living near the sea, on the shores of the Gulf of Aden, I still hold the vivid memory of endless beaches where time seemed to dissolve.
Education and Academic Path
Returning to Romania in 1995 alongside my parents and three siblings marked the beginning of a challenging period of readjustment. However, from a very young age, I knew that my path belonged to art.
I attended the "Romul Ladea" High School of Fine Arts, where I specialized in painting. I then pursued my undergraduate studies at the University of Art and Design in Cluj-Napoca, majoring in Photography. For my master’s degree, I returned "home" to the National University of Arts in Bucharest, focusing on the photo-video department.
Artistic Philosophy: Matter as Memory
Since my return to Romania, I have strived to preserve that simple and responsible lifestyle toward "Mother Earth." I do not view this as a conscious ecological choice, but rather as a natural way of being. This is how I live, how I work, and how I create: I consume little, avoid anything that could harm the planet, and seek simplicity in everything, including my artistic expression.
In my practice, I work with raw matter and the tactile elements that surround us: water, earth, sand, stones, wood, or dried plants. I also integrate materials from the realm of construction—such as plaster, natural pigments, and oxides—alongside human-made residue like cardboard packaging, paper, or sawdust salvaged from the carpentry workshop.
My long-term vision is for my works to be crafted exclusively from natural and recycled materials, promoting a clean, simple, and authentic lifestyle through both art and design.
The Present: The House-Studio
Today, I also practice as a self-taught interior designer, an activity that weaves organically into my spatial vision. Together with my husband, Daniel Tufiș, I created a house-studio located 15 km outside of Bucharest. It is an open space that hosts both our daily lives and the painting and carpentry workshops where our projects come to life.
Professional Highlights
My creative journey is backed by a solid academic foundation and hands-on experience accumulated over more than 15 years in design and visual arts.
Education & Training
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Master of Fine Arts (Photo-Video) – National University of Arts, Bucharest
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Bachelor of Fine Arts (Photography) – University of Art and Design (UAD), Cluj-Napoca
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Professional Certificate in Painting – "Romul Ladea" High School of Fine Arts, Cluj-Napoca
Professional Experience
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Interior Designer (Self-Taught) | [Start Year] – Present
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Co-founder of the design studio alongside Daniel Tufiș.
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Specializing in sustainable spaces, minimalist style, and natural materials.
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Visual Artist & Object Designer
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Crafting art pieces and custom furniture in our private studio using mixed media (wood, plaster, natural oxides).
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Areas of Expertise
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Residential Interior Design (concept development and implementation).
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Painting & Mixed Media surface texturing techniques.
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Conceptual Photography and process documentation.
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Artisanal Carpentry and restoration.
A summary of my artistic activity:
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Group Exhibition , " IdentitA-E-R Trei " with Elena Ilash and Roxana Donaldson– Curator Taroi Victoria \,Gallery9, Brașov 2025
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Brașov International Biennial of Visual Arts - "Oxymoron" , October 1st to November 5th, 2023
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Sustainable Art Exhibition – CS WEEK Bucharest, Galateca Gallery – May 2022;
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Painting Exhibition within NAG (White Night of the Art Galleries) 2022 – “WHEN ART MEETS THE ART OF LIVING”;
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Solo Painting Exhibition – Brâncovenesti Palaces Cultural Center, Ground Floor Hall – Curator: Ana Negoiță – May 29 – July 19, 2021;
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Group exhibition - UNICAT @ Creative Est # 1 - Bucharest 2015
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Personal exhibition - painting - IRIEMEMBER - Carol 53 - Bucharest 2014
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Work in Progress 3 - Collective exhibition of contemporary art - Ciclop Parking - Bucharest 2013
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Work in Progress - "Terre a Terre" - Gabroveni, Bucharest - October 2012
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Personal photography exhibition in the event "Women on Mătăsari" - Bucharest 2011
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Exhibition of masters graduates - National University of Arts Bucharest - photo section 2009 - research project
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Opening photo exhibition - Concept Store - “Maitresse Maison” Dorin Negrău - Cluj Napoca 2008
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Biennale of Young Artists in Europe and the Mediterranean Area of the 13th edition - BJCEM - 2007 with Photography - "Independent & trendy" - research project
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Fashion photography exhibition - Bucharest National University of Arts - Fashion section 2007
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Graduates Exhibition - University of Art and Design Cluj Napoca-Photo-video 2006
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Cluj Napoca House of Culture - “Citadin Landscape” 2004
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Cluj Napoca House of Culture - Free theme 2004
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Salt mines from Turda - "Tera", mixed technique 2003
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Personal Photography Exhibition - "Eroticism" - at Café Bulgakov in Cluj-Napoca 2003
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Group exhibition - Salt mines from Turda- "Tera", mixed technique 2003
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Group exhibition - Library of the Romanian-Octavian Goga Academy in Cluj-Napoca 2001
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Group exhibition - “Interior windows” - Painting - Curator Onisim Colta - Art critic, Artist and Dr. University professor - Arad - Arad Municipal Galleries 2000
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International art exhibition through - “International Children's Association” - 2nd prize - USA - the event entered the record book for the longest painted canvas 1998
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Personal Painting Exhibition - “Imaginative Universe” - won following an international painting competition organized by the Avenida de Los- Artistas Gallery in Vienna- 1st place - with a one-month scholarship 1998
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Exhibition of paintings and drawings - Ion Creanga General School in Cluj Napoca 1997
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