Description

Born in 1985 in Bistrița, Transylvania, the artist grew up surrounded by traditional Romanian landscapes that inspired a passion for figurative art. Guided by mentor Mircea Mocanu, the artist developed a fascination with faces and expressions, which led to a focus on sculpture. Initially studying painting at the Corneliu Baba Art High School, a shift to sculpture followed, but studies at the Cluj-Napoca University of Art were left unfinished.

A key milestone was The Innocents’ Choir, a collection of 5,000 unique mud figurines created during a personal crisis. This project toured major Romanian cities, raised €35,000 for children in need, and solidified the artist’s career. The success inspired future works like Teddies Riot (2019) and Puzzle, a modular collection of portrait-shaped puzzle pieces.

Now based in Sibiu, the artist works primarily online, exhibiting at ceramics festivals in Romania and abroad. Blue, symbolizing the sea, sky, and healing, plays a central role in the works. The creative process, rooted in patience and craftsmanship, reflects a deep connection with clay, where each piece embodies emotion, effort, and artistic freedom.

Extract from Andrei Pandea autobiography. Read More