Artist Spotlight - Stefanoiu Vasile — Contemporary Art Curator Magazine

Biography

Vasile Stefanoiu, a Romanian sculptor, believes art must convey a message and sees sculpture as a restorative force. He creates sustainable circular art using recycled and reused resources.
In some of his sculptures, he brings back legends from Greek mythology and places them in different contexts, to create a new way of seeing in modern times.
His recent works show the impact of digital acceleration on humanity, questioning whether it advances or limits creativity.

Water Is Life, marble, 2023, HxWxD 32 x 45 x 19 cm

His sculptures occupy a unique niche within contemporary art, one that pays homage to the technical mastery and thematic depth of the old masters while simultaneously engaging with the challenges and dichotomies of the modern era.
His nuanced approach to form and content places him among those contemporary artists who seek to reconcile the digital age's fast-paced innovation with the contemplative rhythm of classical art.

Hydro erosion, marble, © 2019, Height/Width/Depth : 35x35x16 cm

Exhibitions:

Participation in exhibitions, physical, with sculptures in marble, wood or mixed:

• Ferrara Art Biennial – Italy, Nov. 2024;
• MEAM Barcelona Art Biennial Oct. 2024;
• MoBu Art, at Romexpo in Bucharest, Romania;
• Florence Art Biennale - Italy (2021 and 2023 editions);
• “San Remo Art Biennale” in September 2023;

Participated in numerous art exhibitions, solo or group, online, in the USA, Canada, Italy.

“Icarus - the dream of freedom”, mixed media, © 2021, Height/Width/Depth : 101 x 74 x 37 cm

Awards:

•“Velasquez & Goya”, Barcelona 2024;
• “PHOENIX” International Award in Venice, 2024;
• “Best Contemporary Masters 2024”, in “Sculpture”;
• “Michelangelo - Genius of Italy” Award, Rome 2023;
• “Artist of the Year 2022” at the Artavita Gallery USA;

Numerous other awards, “Honorable Mentions” and “Talent Awards”.

"Orpheus and Eurydice", marble, © 2021, Height / Width / Depth: 77 x 46 x 12 cm

Artist Statement

I am one of those sculptors who insists on making art in the traditional way, but without rejecting contemporary trends.
So it is a total pleasure to create without putting in it the will to succeed, just to have fun, to be understood, to reach out to others to share my love for art, which has shaped my personality since childhood. I like to create a personal style that can be unique to my art and personality.

“The shadow of Orpheus and Eurydice, eternal love for woman ”, walnut wood, © 2021, Height/Width/Depth : 84 x 76 x 42 cm

All my subjects convey the same message: harmony for humanity through the fusion of opposing principles. My working technique is direct carving with traditional tools, chisels, drills and abrasives that I use by hand and where every chisel stroke is final.
I carve on all sides in the "Ronde-bosse" system because it shows all around.
In the last works I focus my message on the new language of the human body in relation to the

“Arachne Metamorphosis”, Mixed media, © 2021, Height/Width/Depth : 70x37x19 cm

dynamism propagated by digital technology that shaped its behavior.
Human creativity seems abandoned in favor of accessing creativity offered by digital technology.
In the contemporary era, the way we see and perceive art and things around us has changed almost exclusively through the phone or other internet-connected devices.