About Catalin Ilinca
Links
Education
2001 - 2002
Hyperion University, Bucharest
1991 - 1997
National University of Arts, Bucharest
1984 - 1991
N. Tonitza Art College, Bucharest
Awards
2021
Art marketing teacher
Art teacher at the Art and Design School from Tortosa, Catalunya
2020
"Top 10 Awards"
PRECIOUS Biannual Exchange Selections art competition
2020
Featured in PRECIOUS Magazine, (Hong Kong SAR China)
PRECIOUS Issue 83: "One World: East Meets West"
2019
Featured in Apricity Magazine
Featured in Apricity Magazine
2016
being featured in top interior design magazines
My Royal Portrait series were featured in top interior design magazines (Lakáskultúra).
Richard Adams, the last true "maximalist", one of the world top notch interior designers ( http://www.richardadamsinteriors.com/ ) asked me if I want to collaborate on a project (the redesign of a sumptuous residence in Budapest, Hungary). My task was to contribute with two very large canvases. When it was completed, the project have been presented in top interior design magazines (Lakáskultúra). My artworks were much appreciated, also featured and reviewed in the same editorial.
Richard Adams, the last true "maximalist", one of the world top notch interior designers ( http://www.richardadamsinteriors.com/ ) asked me if I want to collaborate on a project (the redesign of a sumptuous residence in Budapest, Hungary). My task was to contribute with two very large canvases. When it was completed, the project have been presented in top interior design magazines (Lakáskultúra). My artworks were much appreciated, also featured and reviewed in the same editorial.
2015
Artist of the Week
artist of the week, April 2015, award given by the curators of Art Finder
2014
Featured in several thematic Saatchi collections
Saatchi "Inspired by Picasso" collections, curated by Rebecca Wilson
and Katherine Henning (another collection)
Featured artwork: Portrait of Marie Thérèse Walter
and Katherine Henning (another collection)
Featured artwork: Portrait of Marie Thérèse Walter
2007
contributor
In 2007 I was invited to contribute to "Color Management for Packaging: A Comprehensive Guide for Graphic Designers" book, by John Drew, Sarah Meyer
2006
Key Creative
Key Creative at OpenAD.net
2005
2nd prize
Stamps illustration. National illustration contest organized by Romanian Postal Service Publishing
2001
The National Prize for Graphic Arts
The National Prize for Graphic Arts at TIAV 2001 (The International Visual Arts Fair, Bucharest)
1995
2nd prize
2nd prize / T-Shirt design contest organized by the ONG GRUP222, (regarding the gender rights equality)
1994
1st prize
illustration design contest organized by UBISOFT
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Previous events
Event: Woman Portrait
Dates: 26 Feb 2025 - 9 Mar 2025
collective exhibition at Form Art
Event: portraits
Dates: 4 Feb 2025 - 27 Jul 2025
2025 - collective exhibition at Ara Art, Bucharest, Romania
Event: Art Auction
Dates: 1 Nov 2024 - 12 Nov 2024
2024 – collective exhibition / Art Auction at Casa Vikart, Bucharest, Romania
Event: all about faces
Dates: 1 Sep 2017 - 30 Sep 2017
group exhibition
Biography
fragments from an interview given to ARTDEX:
/ What motivates you to create? / I'm a very creative person, so I just create! It's in my nature, I simply can't imagine life otherwise. If I didn't paint or draw, I would definitely write or compose music, or I would make my own movies.
/ Tell us about your artistic style? / Most of my works are figurative, but I also have an abstract landscapes series. Generally speaking, what we call abstract painting could fall into various genres or categories, but my tryout in this field could be labeled as lyrical abstract. While my work in the figurative area could be simply associated to contemporary realism or contemporary figurative.
I've always been a very versatile artist, I've experienced a lot of different insights and perspectives, I've embraced various styles or genres, depending on my inner evolution and on the faces of my evolution as an artist. At some point in this evolution, I've even felt like creating a new style, a style which I called Magic Expressionism. It's about a series of compositions that remind of the surrealistic current, as I put together elements that have could suggest an oneiric state, but, at the same time, personal manner and the visual expression I used set them apart.
/ Does creating art help you heal? /
Definitely, yes! Both at a personal level and as an artist. I'm going through a metamorphic
process right now. And it's not so simple :) It has its ups and downs, but I'm happy and enjoying it, because I feel I'm on the right track. I don't care how long it will take and how hard it can get anymore, it will probably take me a life time. I've progressively realized that all of my convictions and principles, the image I had of myself, what I thought my personality was like, all these were mainly external programs or patterns I had assimilated during my childhood, from school, family, environment. Many years, I thought that an artist's soul should be torn by a constant inner turmoil and disappointment regarding the present. I thought that frustration was the source and the propeller of creativity. I was wrong and this belief brought me confusion and unhappiness. I'm finally happy I could clear my perspective and realize that being on the dark side is a false and pointless way. I'm glad that people can see now the beauty, the serenity, the inner light in my paintings. I have the feeling that my artworks are always one step ahead of me. They are like seeds I throw forwards on my path and then I get to follow them. To draw a funny parallel - it's like the story of Hansel and Gretel, I follow my work to find my true self just like they follow the little rocks to find their way home. Since I choose the themes of my paintings based on my intuition and they say intuition is your Inner God, I can clearly state that my art indeed helps me heal.
/ What motivates you to create? / I'm a very creative person, so I just create! It's in my nature, I simply can't imagine life otherwise. If I didn't paint or draw, I would definitely write or compose music, or I would make my own movies.
/ Tell us about your artistic style? / Most of my works are figurative, but I also have an abstract landscapes series. Generally speaking, what we call abstract painting could fall into various genres or categories, but my tryout in this field could be labeled as lyrical abstract. While my work in the figurative area could be simply associated to contemporary realism or contemporary figurative.
I've always been a very versatile artist, I've experienced a lot of different insights and perspectives, I've embraced various styles or genres, depending on my inner evolution and on the faces of my evolution as an artist. At some point in this evolution, I've even felt like creating a new style, a style which I called Magic Expressionism. It's about a series of compositions that remind of the surrealistic current, as I put together elements that have could suggest an oneiric state, but, at the same time, personal manner and the visual expression I used set them apart.
/ Does creating art help you heal? /
Definitely, yes! Both at a personal level and as an artist. I'm going through a metamorphic
process right now. And it's not so simple :) It has its ups and downs, but I'm happy and enjoying it, because I feel I'm on the right track. I don't care how long it will take and how hard it can get anymore, it will probably take me a life time. I've progressively realized that all of my convictions and principles, the image I had of myself, what I thought my personality was like, all these were mainly external programs or patterns I had assimilated during my childhood, from school, family, environment. Many years, I thought that an artist's soul should be torn by a constant inner turmoil and disappointment regarding the present. I thought that frustration was the source and the propeller of creativity. I was wrong and this belief brought me confusion and unhappiness. I'm finally happy I could clear my perspective and realize that being on the dark side is a false and pointless way. I'm glad that people can see now the beauty, the serenity, the inner light in my paintings. I have the feeling that my artworks are always one step ahead of me. They are like seeds I throw forwards on my path and then I get to follow them. To draw a funny parallel - it's like the story of Hansel and Gretel, I follow my work to find my true self just like they follow the little rocks to find their way home. Since I choose the themes of my paintings based on my intuition and they say intuition is your Inner God, I can clearly state that my art indeed helps me heal.
