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About Catalina Novac
Biography
I am an artist drawn to the exploration of happiness, joy, and well-being, expressed through gentle, radiant abstract paintings. Studying at the Art League in Old Town Alexandria under the abstract artist John Blee, alongside my background—a Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of Rochester, where I studied motivation and well-being—has shaped both the heart and motivation of my work.
Guided by Self-Determination Theory, my paintings celebrate autonomy, competence, and relatedness, inviting viewers to pause, feel connected, and experience quiet joy. I am inspired by Artfinder’s dedication to original art and meaningful connections, and I hope my work can bring warmth, light, and a touch of happiness into everyday spaces.
Biography
I am an artist drawn to the exploration of happiness, joy, and well-being, expressed through gentle, radiant abstract paintings. Studying at the Art League in Old Town Alexandria under the abstract artist John Blee, alongside my background—a Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of Rochester, where I studied motivation and well-being—has shaped both the heart and motivation of my work.
Guided by Self-Determination Theory, my paintings celebrate autonomy, competence, and relatedness, inviting viewers to pause, feel connected, and experience quiet joy. I am inspired by Artfinder’s dedication to original art and meaningful connections, and I hope my work can bring warmth, light, and a touch of happiness into everyday spaces.
Links
Education
2001 - 2005
University of Rochester
Education
2001 - 2005
University of Rochester
Awards
2026
The People's Artist - finalist-level candidate
Officially in the running to be featured in Artforum Magazine, take home the $25,000 grand prize, and exhibit my work at The Art of Elysium’s Salon in Los Angeles.
Awards
2026
The People's Artist - finalist-level candidate
Officially in the running to be featured in Artforum Magazine, take home the $25,000 grand prize, and exhibit my work at The Art of Elysium’s Salon in Los Angeles.
Upcoming events
- Event:
- ANIMA MUNDI 2026 — CONSCIOUSNESS
- Dates:
- 19 Jun 2026 - 3 Jul 2026
- Venue:
- Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello, Venice, Italy
- ITSLIQUID Group, in collaboration with ACIT Venice, sponsors CONSCIOUSNESS, the second appointment of ANIMA MUNDI 2026. This international exhibition, scheduled from June 19 to July 03, 2026, will be hosted within the prestigious 16th-century Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello and other historic Venetian locations and will feature an exclusive selection of worldwide talents, creating a dynamic dialogue between photography, painting, video art, sculpture, and performance art in the heart of Venice, during the 61st Venice Biennale of Art. As the city comes alive for the Venice Biennale of Art, ANIMA MUNDI 2026 invites artists to immerse themselves in Venice’s vibrant creative energy.
- Event:
- SENSES — International Art Fair 4th Edition 2026
- Dates:
- 5 Jun 2026 - 28 Jun 2026
- Venue:
- MUST – Museum of Contemporary Art, Lecce, Italy
- his prestigious exhibition, dedicated to photography, painting, video art, sculpture, and performance, will be hosted within the historic spaces of the MUST Museum, a prestigious cultural institution in Southern Italy. Scheduled to run from June 05 until June 28, 2026, the fair offers a unique opportunity for international talents to showcase their work in a setting of high institutional value, promoting a dialogue between contemporary research and the museum’s monumental heritage. SENSES International Art Fair will represent a unique occasion that brings together creatives from around the world in Salento, a charming and fascinating area, located at the extreme tip of Apulia, internationally known as a treasure of natural beauty, rich history, delicious food, and vibrant culture. Lecce, the capital of this region, stands as a Southern Italian jewel, where the profound spiritual power of its Baroque history and sun-kissed limestone buildings and churches resonates through its architec
- Event:
- TRACE
- Dates:
- 9 May 2026 - 9 Jun 2026
- Venue:
- https://pixelauragallery.com/pages/previous-exhibitions, online
- https://pixelauragallery.com/pages/previous-exhibitions
Events
Upcoming events
- Event:
- ANIMA MUNDI 2026 — CONSCIOUSNESS
- Dates:
- 19 Jun 2026 - 3 Jul 2026
- Venue:
- Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello, Venice, Italy
- ITSLIQUID Group, in collaboration with ACIT Venice, sponsors CONSCIOUSNESS, the second appointment of ANIMA MUNDI 2026. This international exhibition, scheduled from June 19 to July 03, 2026, will be hosted within the prestigious 16th-century Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello and other historic Venetian locations and will feature an exclusive selection of worldwide talents, creating a dynamic dialogue between photography, painting, video art, sculpture, and performance art in the heart of Venice, during the 61st Venice Biennale of Art. As the city comes alive for the Venice Biennale of Art, ANIMA MUNDI 2026 invites artists to immerse themselves in Venice’s vibrant creative energy.
- Event:
- SENSES — International Art Fair 4th Edition 2026
- Dates:
- 5 Jun 2026 - 28 Jun 2026
- Venue:
- MUST – Museum of Contemporary Art, Lecce, Italy
- his prestigious exhibition, dedicated to photography, painting, video art, sculpture, and performance, will be hosted within the historic spaces of the MUST Museum, a prestigious cultural institution in Southern Italy. Scheduled to run from June 05 until June 28, 2026, the fair offers a unique opportunity for international talents to showcase their work in a setting of high institutional value, promoting a dialogue between contemporary research and the museum’s monumental heritage. SENSES International Art Fair will represent a unique occasion that brings together creatives from around the world in Salento, a charming and fascinating area, located at the extreme tip of Apulia, internationally known as a treasure of natural beauty, rich history, delicious food, and vibrant culture. Lecce, the capital of this region, stands as a Southern Italian jewel, where the profound spiritual power of its Baroque history and sun-kissed limestone buildings and churches resonates through its architec
- Event:
- TRACE
- Dates:
- 9 May 2026 - 9 Jun 2026
- Venue:
- https://pixelauragallery.com/pages/previous-exhibitions, online
- https://pixelauragallery.com/pages/previous-exhibitions
