Cristina Rusu is a Romanian-born Artist who creates art that intends to evoke emotions. Now residing in the United States, Cristina works with a variety of mediums and her art is a manifestation of her personal journey through life.
She started painting at the age of ten with the support of an old painter who lived in her village named Virgil Barsan and he painted with Cristina in his garden. Although she studied political science, math, and informatics, art has always been Cristina's true passion. As an adult, she started to partake in workshops and art courses in both America and Belgium.
The Art Students League of New York is one of her favorite schools and she has also enrolled in MOMA Art courses, The Interior Design Institute of San Francisco, Parsons School of Design, Oxford University Department for Continuing Education and more.
She recently discussed her life and artwork in an exclusive Interview.
Paintings
Blasting News (BN): You grew up in Romania and started painting with an artist from your village so how much did your upbringing impact on your creativity?
Cristina Rusu (CR): It was a starting point for me. As a child, I was painting sacred art and landscapes using oil colors on glass. In time, I discovered that I want to express what is happening inside in a far more creative and mysterious way than talking or writing.
I think that everyone is born with the potential to be creative. I think it's part of being human. But I also think that creativity is a delicate flame that needs to be nurtured and fanned in order for it to grow and be realized.
BN: What is it about German, Hungarian and Romanian folk art that most interests and inspires you?
CR: The mixture between cultural and historical heritage of my hometown and the region of Transylvania where I grew up inspired me from my early years.
BN: How did you go about getting your art seen by the public and when did you start exhibiting in galleries and artistic organizations?
CR: For many years, painting was just a way to disconnect.
Last year I decided to show my work to the world, and also last year I had my first solo show at “Ora0” in Brasov where I met Getty and George, two wonderful people who own this gallery, and after that in New York, at The Gateway Art Center of New York.
BN: How would you describe your artwork and can you explain the meanings behind some of your works?
CR: My art is meant to evoke feelings and emotions. No matter the medium, my art has always been a manifestation of my personal journey. Art is not necessarily positive: it can be deliberately hurtful or displeasing: it can make you think about or consider things that you would rather not. But if it evokes an emotion in you, then it is art. My favorite piece is “SCREAM, 2017” which is made from mixed media on canvas.
BN: What mediums do you most enjoy using and are you planning to expand in the near future?
CR: At this point, I am using acrylics, oil, watercolor, chalk, charcoal, pastel and ink. I have started to study Color Theory at MOMA and Parsons School of Design, New York and I want to go as deep as possible in this field. A teacher of mine and a great artist told me: "You have to learn the colors like the alphabet!”
Artist
BN: So far what have been the most rewarding things about being a professional artist and what are your greatest goals for the future?
CR: The rewarding thing for me is the moment when someone looks at one of my paintings and that person feels something. My art is meant to evoke feelings and emotions, as I said earlier.
Regarding my goals, I actually learned, over time, that I did better with my goals when I didn't tell anyone until I knew I was close to getting there!
BN: What new projects and/or events are coming up for you soon and what else would you like to mention?
CR: I am working on a new project which I will exhibit this year. I am not sure if it will be exhibited in the USA or Romania first but I hope to have it seen in various countries. Another project I am working on is making a sculpture inspired by the painting “SCREAM.”
