In the heart of the Făgăraș Mountains, in Nucșoara (Argeș County), the Garden of Ideas project—initiated by artist Maia Ștefana Oprea—has developed over five years of artistic and ecological activities in nature. Hosted by ETAJ MAHAL, within the Combinatul Fondului Plastic in Bucharest, the exhibition brings together ten artists who, through residencies and interdisciplinary collaborations, have explored how art can engage in dialogue with nature and local materials.
Participating artists: Alexandra Baciu, Elena Berlo, Eugen Berlo, Anca Coller, Crina Cranta, Victor Ghiga, Lucian Muntean, Maia Ștefana Oprea, Zelmira Szabó, Ramona Șlug.
The works on display reveal slow processes, careful observation, transformation, and reconnection—central themes within this artistic collective. The Garden of Ideas has evolved into a space for experimentation and learning, where art, sustainability, and community spirit naturally come together.
Through this first collective appearance, the artists aim to build a bridge between their experiences in nature and the urban exhibition space, opening paths toward new artistic collaborations and shared creative explorations.
The Artists
Alexandra Baciu (b. 1982, Focșani), a graduate of UNArte Bucharest, Painting Department, took part in The Garden of Ideas in 2021. Her work explores the connection between art and sustainability through a process of rediscovering the rhythms and crafts of nature.
Elena Berlo (b. 1979, Constanța), with studies in Architecture and Art (University of Bucharest, FIT New York), brings together design, illustration, and fine art in her practice, transforming personal stories into visual poetry.
Eugen Berlo (b. 1975, Bucharest) is an American artist of Romanian origin, living and working in Bucharest since 2012. He studied Fine Arts in New York and Architecture and Mathematics in Bucharest, exhibiting both in Romania and abroad.
Anca Coller (b. 1976, Bucharest) is an interdisciplinary artist whose work investigates themes such as memory, human fragility, the vulnerability of contemporary ecosystems, alienation, and isolation.
Crina Cranta (b. 1986, Bucharest) is an interdisciplinary artist with dual master’s degrees from UNArte and UAUIM. She explores the human–nature relationship both visually and situationally, conceptually linking The Garden of Gura Siriului with The Garden of Ideas.
Victor Ghiga (b. 1979, Ploiești) explores the dialogue between material and form, allowing wood to guide the sculptural gesture and seeking an organic synthesis between artistic intention and nature.
Lucian Muntean (b. 1974, Sighișoara) is a Romanian visual artist and graduate of the Faculty of Geology, Babeș-Bolyai University. His practice spans photography, painting, graphic art, illustration, and calligraphy, merging scientific observation with artistic emotion.
Maia Ștefana Oprea (b. 1987, Bucharest) lives in Prahova and Argeș counties. A graduate of UNArte Bucharest, with fellowships in France and the USA, she explores the relationship between art and nature through an ecological visual discourse that connects contemporary practice with traditional craftsmanship.
Zelmira Szabó (b. 1977, Cluj-Napoca), illustrator with a background in theater studies and scenography, works across theater, puppet theater, literature, screenwriting, costume and set design, mail art, and children’s literature. She is also active in theoretical research through interviews, reviews, and theater criticism.
Ramona Șlug (b. 1979, Constanța) focuses on the relationship between education, nature, heritage, and artistic expression. Co-founder of BAR – Bărăști Artist Residency (2013), she transforms her rural heritage into a living creative space.
