Octavian Florescu

Octavian Florescu was born in 1957 in the Southern Romanian town of Craiova. In 1978 he interrupted his university studies in engineering to become a full-time artist painter.

The unknown, the energy, and the struggle to discover the essence of life the movement and the metamorphosis are the basic elements of my work.
-----The search for the Human essence, for the link between the human reality and the spiritual one are the leading ideas in my work.
-----The elements that I am using are almost real; the characters are fluid and in motion; they are spiritual, radiating an energy on the point of merging with the Universe.
-----Each work is a story, a rhapsody, a vision into spirituality. I am trying to suggest only the idea of departure in meditation toward perfection, without creating the image of an absolute world.
-----The suppleness of the human symbols, the movement, the soaring toward the infinite try to introduce the spectator into a system of perfection.
-----All of my work is a real introspection of life.

Canada
1992-96
Montreal, SODARCO, First International visual art competition, Jury's Special Mention (1993)
Montreal, Place Ville Marie, Exhibit of artists which are International Prizes winners (1994)
Montreal-competition "ART VIEWED IN MUSIC", organized by HMV, 1st prize winner (1995)
Montréal, "Constantin Brâncusi" Cultural organization, art competition – 1st prize
Montreal, "Unique Concept" art gallery
Saint Sauveur, Quebec, Anny's Art Galerie
Laval, Gallery "Sonnen et Dubuc"
Laval, Maison des Arts, group ehibition
Montreal, University of Quebec at Montreal, group exhibition
Mirabelle, Spring Hall, 1992
Mascouche, Fall Art Festival, 1992
Montreal, Ezotherique Library Center
Toronto, "Pegas" Gallery, Hazelton Complex
Quebec, Bon Pasteur Historical Chapel––personal exhibition

2003-07
Calgary, AB, Avenida art gallery
Calgary, AB, Metamorphosa, Artspace
Calgary, AB, ArtSpace Gallery, personal exhibition, December 2005
Victoria, BC, Fat Cat art gallery
Victoria, BC, Mocka Café, personal exhibition, December 2006
Chemainus, BC, Oak Leaf Gallery

USA (1997-2003)
New York, Paul Brezinsky (?) art gallery SOHO (1997-98)
Washington, DC, Romanian Embassy, personal exhibition, Dec 1999-Jan 2000
Washington, DC, World Bank, group exhibition, 2001

Hungary (1989-90)
Budapest, Group Exhibition , Professional Artists "Art Color" Gallery
Budapest, "Fontana" Gallery permanent personal exhibition
Budapest, "Christian Intellectual Foundation"––personal exhibition.
Nyiregyhaza, Academy of Sciences and the Theological Academy––personal exhibition
Budapest, International Spring Hall, group exhibition (1993)
Included in the Hungarian “Who is Who” 1992

Mexico (1993)
Neocalpan, Group exhibit organized by the Embassy of Mexico

France (1996 -1997, 2003-04)
Several group and personal exhibitions in Paris, Vichy, and other towns

Austria (1996 -1997, 2003-04)
Several group exhibitions and auctions in Vienna

Romania (1980-1989)
Arad, Buzias, Felix, Moneasa – personal exhibitions

I was born in 1957 in the Southern Romanian town of Craiova.

In 1978, I interrupted my university studies in engineering to become a full-time painter. For five years I studied church painting and restoration that gave me the opportunity to learn and master all painting techniques from the ancient fresco to the contemporary oil and acrylic. The influence of the Byzantine style is noticeable in the suppleness of the personages.

Since 1989, while in Hungary, I completely dedicated myself to surrealism.

The search for the Human essence, for the link between the human reality and the spiritual one are the leading ideas in Octavian Florescu's work.
-----The elements used by the artist are almost real; the characters are fluid and in motion; they are spiritual, radiating an energy on the point of merging with the Universe.
-----Each work is a story, a rhapsody, a vision into spirituality. The artist is trying to suggest only the idea of departure in meditation toward perfection, without creating the image of an absolute world.
-----The suppleness of his human symbols, the movement, the soaring toward the infinite try to introduce the spectator into a system of perfection. The translucence, spectrum of colors, accuracy of his drawing make Florescu a great master of both, oil and acrylic techniques.