Iulian COPĂCEL

Study and Gesture in Contemporary Drawing

My artistic path began under the constraints of a restrictive communist regime, where formal art education was both a rigid discipline and a hard-won form of freedom. This early environment instilled in me a surgical rigor that remains the backbone of my practice. Today, my work is a relentless study of drawing in all its forms—not as a tool for representation, but as a medium for the energy it radiates.

While my journey started with the severe discipline of the 1980s, I have always felt a magnetic pull toward what lies beyond form: movement, femininity, and fluidity. For a significant period, I immersed myself in the world of Degas’ ballerinas, exploring how the human body carves through space. However, that phase was merely the foundation. My turning point came when I decided to liberate the line from academic and ideological constraints. I stopped drawing what I saw and began painting the rhythm of the line itself.

Today, my creative process is an act of total liberation. I work with acrylics in experimental consistencies, allowing the medium to partially dictate the direction in a continuous dialogue between control and chance. I am no longer seeking to represent a body or an object; instead, I aim to capture that moment of absolute freedom where composition becomes dynamic and color becomes pure emotion.

To me, painting is expression stripped of preconceived notions. It is a constant search for that state of flow where years of technical discipline meet the spontaneity of abstraction. The result is a distinct, mature style that prioritizes the vibration of the composition, offering the viewer the freedom to find their own story within the layers of color—a freedom that was once a dream and is now my reality.

Education & Professional Affiliations

• Since 2007: Full Member of the Romanian Visual Artists’ Union (UAP) – Iași Branch

• 1998: Graduate of the “George Enescu” National University of Arts, Faculty of Visual Arts and Design, Department of Painting, Iași, Romania

• 1993: Graduate of the “Octav Băncilă” National College of Art, Department of Graphic Arts, Iași, Romania

Exhibitions, Biennales & Projects

• 2026: The 4th “Constantin Găvenea” National Drawing & Graphic Art Biennale – Tulcea, Romania

• 2026: The “Nicolae Tonitza” International Biennale of Contemporary Art – “Vasile Pârvan” Museum, Bârlad, Romania

• 2025: “Dăruiește un zâmbet” Charity Gala & Art Auction – Organised by Salvați Copiii (Save the Children) Iași; donated two artworks, successfully auctioned for children’s educational programs

• 2025: The 19th “Lascăr Vorel” National Biennale of Fine Arts – Neamț County Museum Complex / “Lascăr Vorel” Art Gallery, Piatra Neamț, Romania

• 2025: The National Biennale of Contemporary Art – Constanța, Romania

• 2025: MANUSCRIPT: The Dance of Line – Body of work comprising 8 drawings and a monumental gestural canvas, presented within the BEYOND project developed by MEDARU Architects in collaboration with Zumtobel Lighting

• 2025: OBIECTUL – Contemporary art installation, Iași International Airport, Romania

• 2025: DANS MUT – Contemporary art and installation project supported by Amazon, Iași, Romania

• 2024: Erotica Art Salon – Curated by Dragoș Pătrașcu, Baia Turcească International Center for Contemporary Art, Iași, Romania (2 drawings)

• 2024: Group Exhibition: Art ’98 – 1993–1998 Alumni Exhibition, “George Enescu” National University of Arts, Iași, Romania

• 2024: Solo Exhibition: THE OBJECT (OBIECTUL) – Absida Gallery (Iași) & “I. G. Sbiera” Bucovina Library (Suceava), Romania

• 2023: The 18th “Lascăr Vorel” National Biennale of Fine Arts – Piatra Neamț, Romania

• 2023: INDUSTRIAL – Architectural drawing installation consisting of 12 black-acrylic OSB panels, Palas Campus, Iași, Romania

• 2023: OLD TOWN – Monumental custom architectural graphic installation (450 sq. m) spanning 5 levels, Palas Campus, Iași, Romania

• 2022: Solo Exhibition: Rhythms of Being – Elite Art Gallery, Bucharest, Romania

• 2022: The 4th “Nicolae Tonitza” International Biennale of Contemporary Art – “Vasile Pârvan” Museum, Bârlad, Romania

• 2022: Solo Exhibition: Luciferic Dance. The Lost Horn of the Unicorn – “Theodor Pallady” Art Gallery (UAP), Iași, Romania

• 2021: Amazon Principles II – Commission of 17 large-scale canvas paintings illustrating corporate leadership principles for Amazon, Iași, Romania

• 2021: Solo Drawing Exhibition: A Red Circle – “Nicolae Tonitza” Gallery, Iași, Romania

• 2020: ArtIS 2020 Annual Art Salon – Organized by UAP Iași Branch & Iași City Hall, Romania

• 2019: Amazon Contemporary Series – Abstract painting project consisting of 12 works on canvas for the Amazon Office Headquarters, Iași, Romania

• 2019: Solo Exhibition: 3. Documenter les gestes – Victoria Gallery, Iași, Romania

• 2019: International Festival of Education (IFE) – Iași, Romania (2 artworks)

• 2016: Amazon Principles – Large-scale mural project (14 drawings, 10 × 3 m) for the Amazon Office Headquarters, Iași, Romania

• 2015: Solo Exhibition: Documenter les gestes – French Institute, Iași, Romania

• 2012: Solo Exhibition: Portraits. Female Poses – “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University Museum (Attic Hall), Iași, Romania

• 2005: ArtIS Annual Art Salon – Romanian Visual Artists’ Union (UAP), Iași Branch, Romania

• 2005: Collective Exhibition alongside ERASMUS international students, “George Enescu” National University of Arts, Iași, Romania (3 artworks)

• 2004: ArtIS Annual Art Salon – Romanian Visual Artists’ Union (UAP), Iași Branch, Romania

• 2004: Small Engraving Triennial – Tama Art University, Tokyo, Japan (2 artworks)

• 2004: Featured in Timpul Cultural Magazine, Issue no. 4 (April)

• 2003: Published artworks (painting, tempera, and pastel) in Timpul Cultural Magazine, Issue no. 9 (November)

• 2003: Solo Exhibition – “Rotonda” Hall, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iași, Romania

• 2002: TVR Iași Collective Exhibition – Iași, Romania (2 pastel portraits)

• 1998: Small Engraving Triennial – Exhibition and official presentation catalogue, Tama Art University, Tokyo, Japan (2 artworks)

• 1998: Collective Exhibition – Advertising graphics, easel graphics, engraving, and book-object, “Cupola” Gallery, Iași, Romania (5 artworks)

• 1997: STUDFEST (6th Edition) – Collective Exhibition, Timișoara, Romania (2 artworks)