The group exhibition “Emerging Me II: BLACK DIAMONDS,” curated by Gilda Ghinoiu, presents works by the award-winning artists alongside a selection of works by the finalists of the second edition of the Art Movements Foundation Emerging Painting Award. This year, the competition brought together 96 artists from Romania, the Republic of Moldova, and Hungary.

“Emerging Me II: BLACK DIAMONDS” showcases a diversity of painting approaches, ranging from figurative art and contemporary realism to abstract and conceptual explorations, offering the public a broad perspective on the thematic concerns and expressive directions pursued by emerging artists.

Exhibiting artists: Cristian Bogdan Bara, Cristina Bejan, Lorena Ana-Maria Buta, Irina Gabriela Ceghe, Costel Chițimuș, Andreea Cioară, Calin Dumitrascu, Maria Eross, Florin Enache, Luca Florian, Vivien Fritz, Ştefan Găleanu, Alexandra Gheorghe-Papadopol, Nectaria Ioana Guraliuc, Mariana Hultoană, Ana-Cristina Lupu, Mara Malinovski, Antonia Mușat, Alexandra-Paula Nănău, Călin Nedelcu, Maria Onu, Diana Păunescu, Mara Popa, Alexandru-Daniel-Adrian Révész, Bianca Serenciuc, Oana Gabriela Sima, Cristiana-Emanuela Tărbuc, Maria-Ilinca Țoța, Teodor Zaica, Andreea Mariana Zimbru.

First Prize: Cristiana-Emanuela Tărbuc – Aequo Animo I (oil on canvas, 100 × 100 cm, 2025)
Second Prize: Călin Nedelcu – Aer (oil on canvas, 150 × 80 cm, 2026)
Third Prize: Cristian Bara – Garden #2: Magic Tree (acrylic on canvas, 140 × 100 cm, 2024)
Collector’s Prize: Vivien Fritz – Detachment (marker and oil colors on recycled mirror, 50 × 120 cm, 2024)

The works were evaluated by secret ballot by an independent jury consisting of Radu Băieș (painter), Ștefania Ciobanu (painter and winner of the first edition), Lorena Cîmpean (contemporary art collector), Alexandra Runcan (museum curator and restoration specialist, Brukenthal National Museum), and Adrian Stoleriu (visual artist and Dean of the Faculty of Visual Arts and Design, UNAGE).

Now in its second edition, the project initiated by the Art Movements Foundation aims to discover and promote emerging artists by providing them with real opportunities for exhibition, visibility, and dialogue with the public, curators, collectors, and professionals in the cultural sector.

The exhibition can be visited at Scemtovici & Benowitz Gallery until August 22, 2026, from Thursday to Saturday, 3:30–7:30 PM.