Celina Grigore

Please be advised that ALL images presented on this profile are subject to applicable United States AND international copyright laws. Any form of reproduction without written permission from the copyright owner, artist Celina Grigore, is strictly prohibited.

Following the successful solo exhibition titled "Borderless" at the "Dairy Center for the Arts" in Boulder, Colorado, Celina continues to look for additional contemporary spaces to accommodate the size, spirit and level of public exposure her ample, ongoing "Migration" series deserves.

Large-scale, black-and-white, pen-and-ink drawings are the result of Celina's passionate studio artwork for over two decades! Her dedication to the "Migration" theme and its metaphorical connotations is deeply and meaningfully rooted into her autobiographical journey migrating from the ex-communist East European Block to the United States in her early 20's. After completing 6 years of university in Bucharest, majoring in Fine Arts, Celina has traveled extensively to explore options outside her native country and to experience unobstructed freedom of creation. She chose Colorado as her newly adopted land in 1993.

If you are interested in an existing artwork or would like to discuss a commission-based artwork, for a residential or a corporate space, please inquire at: Celina@CelinaDesign.com

 

Pen and Ink. Black and White

Inspired by travels, journeys, flight, time, space and the coexistence of opposing forces, several cycles of pen & ink drawings have emerged lately from my studio:

The “Migration” series
The “Journeys & Generations” series
The “Relationships” series

The Migration Series

Travelling is experiencing with intensity.

Beyond exploring, travelling is about acquiring a sense of place.

Beyond contemplating the flow of shapes in a landscape, I kneel to the ground, run my fingers through sand, dirt, grass. I focus on the silence. In that frame of mind and spirit I try to feel the life force within, a pulse.

Beyond entering and exiting a space, I accumulate visual information by observing key-characteristics from up-close and up-above. I make note of features from a variety of perspectives to the target-objects: from the growth pattern of a leaf to the structure of a village seen from atop a medieval tower, from the abstract erosions carved by time into a piece of stone to the striped vineyard patterns on the hills of a Tuscan landscape. Up-close characteristics generate texture. Up-above characteristics determine structure.

By the time I leave, I have an imprint of that place.

My studio work starts with translating that imprint–an exaltation of the senses–into a visual language. A new journey is about to begin.

The process of distilling emotion into formal elements generates a wave of idea-sketches. Key elements start defining an essence of space. Communicating to the viewer a sense of space is not done by means of expected spacial relationships as much as it is done by means of emotional association and symbolic interconnections.

Creating a Metaphor

The Bird is a symbol of complete freedom, that enables me to rise above the existential condition of having been born and raised in one part of the world and living an ocean away from it. Travelling makes it possible to detach myself from being physically or emotionally tied down to any one place. It is a way of freeing the soul. It is a way of not living your life part by fate, part by choice, but rather being ALIVE by gaining vision through expanded knowledge and newly unfolded possibilities.

The metaphorical relationship between The Bird and elements of a place determine the composition. In turn, compositional arrangements indicate a trajectory for the viewer’s eye to follow. That trajectory will engage the viewer into discovering a rhythmic beat beyond the allusive, the accidental, the perceived.

When my heart pounds with excitement throughout the creative process, it is a reward. If I ignite an emotion into someone else’s heart, it is a revelation! A new connection is about to emerge.

 

SOLO & SMALL GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2011 - "Borderless. Drawings in Ink and Thread"
A Solo Exhibition of Drawing and Tapestry
The Dairy Center for the Arts - Boulder, CO, USA

2006 - "From Pictorial to Abstract"
an exhibition of handwoven tapestry by two generations of artists,
Celina Grigore and Lucia Grigore
Rose Gallery - Arvada (Denver Metro), Colorado, USA

2004 - "A Generation Apart: Mothers + Daughters + Art"
A six-person exhibition
San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles - San Jose, California, USA

2001 - "Spotlight on Tapestry"
an exhibition of tapestry by two generations of Romanian artists,
Celina Grigore and Lucia Grigore
Bayeux Gallery - Denver, Colorado, USA

1998 - Three-Person Exhibition - Tapestry - Arts Gallery
National Military Center - Bucharest, Romania

1995 - One-Person Exhibition - Tapestry & Ink Drawing
Orizont Art Gallery - Bucharest, Romania

 

JURIED, INVITATIONAL AND GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2011 - "Big Draw Little Draw" 
Abecedarian Gallery - Art District on Santa Fe 
Juror: Dr. Gwen Chanzit, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, Denver Art Museum

2011 - "28th Annual All Colorado Art Show"
Curtis Arts & Humanities Center
Greenwood Village (Denver Metro), CO, USA
Juror: Jill Desmond, Denver Art Museum Curatorial Assistant for Modern & Contemporary Art 

2011 - Featured Artist
Flatirons Bank - Boulder, CO, USA

2011 - "New Directions in Drawing" Symposium & Exhibition
Juried International - Emily Carr University of Art + Design - Vancouver, Canada

2010 - "A Taste for Life" - Art Auction - "Exdo Event Center" - Denver, CO, USA

2010 - "Ion Andreescu" Biennial - 7th Edition - "Art Galleries" - Buzau, RO

2010 - "Merge" 
"Center for Visual Art" - Art District on Santa Fe - Denver, CO, USA

2010 - "The Big Bang" - Anniversary Exhibition
Sizzle & Bang Galleries - Art District on Santa Fe - Denver, CO, USA
Invited Artist. Presenting black-and-white, pen-and-ink drawing

2010 - 9th Annual "Art for Life"
"Artwork Network" - Art District on Santa Fe - Denver, CO, USA

2010 - "Summer Pop"
Sizzle & Bang Galleries - Art District on Santa Fe - Denver, CO, USA
Invited Featured Artist. Presenting black-and-white, pen-and-ink drawing

2010 - "Moore Inspired: Contemporary Responses to Henry Moore" 
Gates Garden Court Gallery in the Boettcher Memorial Center at the 
Denver Botanic Gardens - Denver, CO, USA 

2010 - "Old World" - Reed Gallery - Art District on Santa Fe - Denver, CO, USA

2010 - "Figure Studies" - Reed Gallery - Art District on Santa Fe - Denver, CO, USA

2009 - Selected to be part of "Zeitgeitst '09" International Art Show. 
Artwork featured on screens at Bang & Olufsen Showrooms in 
New York, Frankfurt & Istanbul simultaneously

2008 - Art Exhibition in conjunction with the "Romanian Spirituality Congress"
12th Edition - National - Alba Iulia, Romania

2006 - Mostra di Libro e d'Arte - Salotto delle Esposizioni dell'Accademia di Romania
Invitational Group Exhibition - Rome, Italy

2006 - "Ion Andreescu" Art Biennial - 5th Edition - "Art Galleries"
National - Buzau, Romania

2005 - Art Exhibition in conjunction with the "Romanian Spirituality Congress"
9th Edition - National - Alba Iulia, Romania

2001 - "Fort Smith Art Quest" - Fort Smith Convention Center
National - Fort Smith, AR, USA

2001 - "Fantastic Fibers" - The Thirteenth Invitational National Fibers Exhibit
Yeiser Art Center - Paducah, KY, USA

2000 - "Out of Time" - San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles
International - San Jose, CA, USA

2000 - "Craft Forms 2000" - Wayne Art Center - National - Wayne, PA, USA

2000 - "American Tapestry Biennial III" - (international, itinerant)
Northern Kentucky University, KY, USA
Bayeux Gallery, Denver, CO, USA

2000 - "Fiber Celebration 2000" - Estes Park Art Center
National - Estes Park, CO, USA

2000 - "Cats & Dragons" - Coos Art Museum
National - Coos Bay, OR, USA

1999 - "Craft Forms '99" - Wayne Art Center
National - Wayne, PA, USA

1999 - "USA Craft Today '99" - Third Juried Biennial Silvermine Guild Art Center
National - New Canaan, CT, USA

1999 - "Grateful Threads" - The Delaplaine Visual Arts Center
National - Frederick, MD, USA

1999 - "Mountain States Tapestry Invitational Exhibit" (itinerant)
Foothils Fine Arts Center Golden, CO, USA
Western Colorado Center for the Arts - Grand Junction, CO, USA

1998 - "Fantastic Fibers" - The Eleventh Invitational National Fibers Exhibit (itinerant)
Yeiser Art Center - Paducah, KY, USA
Tri-Art Gallery - Louisville, KY, USA

1998 - "Muse of the Millennium" - Emerging Trends in Fiber Art
Nordic Heritage Museum - National - Seattle, WA, USA

1997 - "Craft Forms '97" - Wayne Art Center - National - Wayne, PA, USA

1997 - "The 2nd Triennial of Tapestry" - TNB Galleries
National - Bucharest, Romania

1997 - "Fiber Celebrated '97" - The Eight Biennial Exhibit Lincoln Center
National - Fort Collins, CO, USA

1997 - "Paper/Fiber XX" - Arts Iowa City Center
National - Iowa City, IA, USA

1997 - "Vision/Revision: Fiber in Transition"
Loveland Museum Gallery - National - Loveland, CO, USA

1996 - 1997 - "American Tapestry Biennial I" - (international, itinerant) 
Oak Ridge Museum of Fine Arts, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
Southern Illinois University Museum, Carbondale, IL, USA
Wellington B. Gray Gallery, Greenville, NC, USA
The Foothills Art Center, Golden, CO, USA

1996 - "Art Zone" - The 33rd Edition - JCC - 8-State Regional - Denver, CO, USA

1996 - "HGB Annual Show" - Chautauqua House - Regional - Boulder, CO, USA

1996 - "Group 5 + 1" - "Orizont" Gallery - Invitational - Bucharest, Romania

1995 - "Romanian Art" - Denver Arts Complex
Invitational - Denver, CO, USA

1995 - "Tapestries by Romanian Artists" - "Buell Theater" - Denver Arts Complex 
Invitational - Denver, CO, USA

1995 - "Tapestries by Romanian Artists" - "Boettcher Hall" - Denver Arts Complex
Invitational - Denver, CO, USA

1995 - "UNESCO Days" - Suceava Art Museum - Suceava, Romania

1995 - "Annual National Graphic Exhibition" - TNB Galleries - Bucharest, Romania

1995 - "Textil '95" - National Art Museum - Bucharest, Romania

1995 - "Annual Salon of Textiles" - Galla Gallery - Bucharest, Romania

1994 - "Annual Exhibition of Painting, Sculpture and Decorative Arts"
National - Bucharest, Romania

1994 - "The 1st Triennial of Tapestry" - House of Parliament Galleries
National - Bucharest, Romania

1993 - "Art Zone" - The 32nd Edition - JCC - 8-State Regional - Denver, CO, USA

1993 - "Annual Young Artists' Exhibition" - TNB Galleries - Bucharest, Romania

1993 - "Group 5+1" - Simeza Art Gallery - Invitational - Bucharest, Romania

1992 - "The Annual Young Artists' Show" - TNB Galleries - Bucharest, Romania

1992 - "Collona Holding Art Gallery" - Bucharest, Romania

1991 - "Carrefour International des Metiers d'Art" - International - Le Touquet, France

1991 - "Collona Holding Art Gallery" - Bucharest, Romania

1990 - "The Annual Young Artists' Show" - TNB Galleries - Bucharest, Romania

1990 - "Voronetiana National Show" - Suceava Art Museum - Suceava, Romania

1990, 1989 - "Annual International Exhibition of Miniature Art"
Dell Bello Gallery - Toronto, Canada

1989 - "The Annual Young Artists' Show" - Dalles Galleries - Bucharest, Romania

1989 - "Young Artists' Group Show"
"Ion Mincu" School of Architecture Galleries - Bucharest, Romania

1989 - "National Students' Art Show" - Petrosani, Romania

1989 - Group Show (Summer Residency - Painting)
Lazarea, Harghita, Romania

1988 - Group Show (Summer Residency - Painting) - The Art Gallery
Focsani, Vrancea, Romania

1987 - Group Show (Summer Residency - Painting) - The Art Center
Slobozia, Ialomita, Romania

 

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

ArtSlant Showcase Winner
6th Showcase, 3rd Showcase, 2nd Showcase and 1st Showcase - 2010
November Showcase and September Showcase - 2009
International Curated/Juried Online Art Competition

Honorable Mention & Panel of Jurors' Nominee - "Zeitgeist '09"
International Juried Online Art Competition - 2009

"1st Prize" - "Cats & Dragons" - Coos Art Museum - Coos Bay, OR, USA - 2000

"HGB Award" - "Fiber Celebrated 2000" - Estes Park, CO, USA - 2000

"Craft Award" - "Craft Forms '99" - Wayne Art Center - Wayne, PA, USA - 1999

"Best of 2D Non-Functional Category" - "Fiber Celebrated 97"
The Eight Biennial Exhibition - Fort-Collins, CO, USA - 1997

"Juror's Award" "Vision/Revision: Fiber in Transition"
Loveland Museum/Gallery - Loveland, CO, USA - 1996

"Best of Show" - "Art Zone" The 32nd Edition
An Eight-State Juried Show
250 works out of 1200 entries were displayed in 11 categories
JCC - Denver, CO, USA - 1993

"3rd Prize" - National Art Show - Romania - 1989 

"Gold Award" for Illustration
ADCD Annual Student Show - Denver, CO, USA - 1998 

"Judge's Choice Award" for Illustration
ADCD Annual Student Show - Denver, CO, USA - 1998 

2 x "Silver Award" for Computer Imaging
ADCD Annual Student Show - Denver, CO, USA - 1998

 

GALLERY REPRESENTATION

Rose Gallery - Arvada (Denver Metro), CO, USA (2006 - 2008)

"Allure" Showroom at the "Denver Design Center" - Denver, CO, USA (2004 - 2006)

Bayeux Gallery - Denver, CO, USA (2000 - 2001)

 

COLLECTIONS

Since 1988 to present, discerning art collectors have acquired one-of-a-kind artworks by Celina Grigore. The artist's large-scale hand-woven tapestries, oil and acrylic paintings, works on paper, commissioned illustrations can be found in private collections in: United States, Canada, Japan, Israel, United Kingdom, France, Italy and Romania. 

 

COMMISSIONS

Completed numerous hand-woven tapestry commissions
for private collectors in the USA. 

If you would like to discuss a commission-based artwork, 
for a residential or a corporate space,
please inquire at: Celina@CelinaDesign.com

 

PRESS COVERAGE, REVIEWS, PUBLICATIONS (SELECTED)

"Borderless" Solo Exhibition - Featured - Newspaper "Gandacul de Colorado"
Nr. 114, 07/2011, p. 19

"Borderless" Solo Exhibition - Featured - DenverArts.org & DenverArts Newsletter
06/01/2011 & 07/07/2011

"Borderless" - Lucian Oprea, Publisher - "Gandacul de Colorado" - online - 05/28/2011

"Merge. Featured Artist: Celina Grigore." - Interview with Celina Grigore by Lizzy Scully
MSCD website & social media - 06/30/2010

"Modernity and Style" - an essay about Celina Grigore's art by Valentin Ciuca, art critic, member of: Romanian Academy of Science; Accademia di Pontzen, Naples, Italy; Union of Writers; Union of Fine Artists, Art Criticism Dept.; VP of the Commission of History and Theory of Art of the Romanian Academy, Iasi

"Colectia de Arta Contemporana Marieta si Chiriac Bucur" ("The Collection of Romanian Contemporary Art Marieta and Chiriac Bucur", art album documenting the exquisite collection of Romanian contemporary art donated to the "Buzau Art Museum") - p. 93-95 - Buzau, Romania - 2007

"Romanian Artists on Display" by Harriet Rose - "YourHub", in-print weekly publication of the "Denver Post" - 2-Person Exhibition Review (Editor's Pick) - Arvada (Denver Metro), CO, USA - 11/09/2006

"Weaving New Rhythms" - Featured tapestry artwork - Rubicon Publishing
University of Toronto Press - Toronto, Canada - 2003

"Personalitati Romane si Faptele Lor 1950-2000" - ("Romanian Personalities and Their Accomplishments 1950-2000") by Constantin Toni Dartu - encyclopedia, volume 7, p. 170-172 - Venus Publishing House - Romania - 2003

"Westword", Denver, CO - "Artbeat" featuring "Spotlight on Tapestry" - Exhibition review at "Bayeux Gallery" - Denver, Colorado, USA - by Michael Paglia - 01/25/2001

"Enciclopedia Artistilor Romani Contemporani" ("Encyclopedia of Contemporary Romanian Artists") - volume 4, p. 77 - Arc Publishing House - Romania - 2000

Prime-time news cast on Romanian National TV - Exhibition Review
Producer: Mihaela Craciun - 07/28/1998

"Radio Romania Cultural" program on Romanian National Cultural Radio
"Cultural Temptations" - Exhibition Review
Producer: Paul Dudea - 08/8/1998

"Crai Nou" - "Ca Apa si Cerul" ("Like the Water and the Sky") 
by Doina Cernica - Book Review - "Fantezii" ("Fantasies")
poetry book by Lucia Grigore, illustrations by Celina Grigore - 11/15/2003

"Dreptatea" - "O Noua Dinastie de Artisti Plastici" ("A New Dynasty of Fine Artists") 
by M. Augustin - Exhibition Review - 08/12/1998

"Adevarul" - "Trio Grigore" 
by Cornel Radu Constantinescu - Exhibition Review - 07/29/1998

"Adevarul" - "Un Debut Notabil: Celina Grigore" ("A Notable Debut: Celina Grigore") 
by Cornel Radu Constantinescu - Exhibition Review - 01/9/1996

"Curierul National" - "Increderea in Statornicie" ("The Confidence in Steadiness") 
by Veronica Marinescu - Exhibition Review - 07/30/1998

"Dreptatea" - "Solemna Cadenta a Tinerilor Artisti" 
("The Solemn Cadence of the Young Artists") 
by M. Augustin - Exhibition Review - Nr. 89 - 01/1996

"Cotidianul" - "Sintaxa Plastica a Scoartelor Taranesti" 
("The Artistic Grammar of Traditional Weavings")
by Adrian-Silvan Ionescu - Exhibition Review - 12/19/1995

"Bucovina Literara" - Published Drawings by Celina Grigore - Various numbers

Prime-time news cast on Romanian National TV - Exhibition Review - 12/15/1995

 

EDUCATION

1996 - 1998 - BFA
Metropolitan State College of Denver, Colorado, USA
Communication Design

1996 - University of Colorado at Boulder, USA 
Graduate Painting

1986 - 1992 - BFA, MFA 
National University of Art - Bucharest, Romania
Fine Arts - Tapestry Design

 

ACADEMIC AWARDS

1998 - "Art Achievement Award" - Metropolitan State College of Denver - USA

1991 - 1992 - "Romanian National Grant of Merit" - Romania

 

Tags: drawing, drawings, bird, birds, migratory, migration, flying, flight, wing, wings, travelling, stylized, metaphorical, metaphor, symbolism, symbolic, symbol, archetypal, archetype, lyrical, fantasy, fantastic, imaginary, imagination, transition, semi abstract, landscape, landscapes, shore, shoreline, water, ocean, architecture, buildings, feather, feathers, Europe, East-Europe, East-European, West-European, North-American, air, paper, canvas, archival, ink, waterproof, pen, white, black, line, high, contrast, monochromatic, figurative, feminine, female, figure, figures, movement, motion, afterlife, light, soul, spirit, body, ethereal, immaterial, intangible, tapestry, hand woven, vertical, loom, one-of-a-kind, design, original, private, collection, collected, custom, award-winning, museum, exhibition, exhibited, traditional, medium, mediums, commission, bienala, Universitatea Nationala de Arta, Bucuresti, Romania, desen, alb si negru, penita, tus, hartie, panza, pasare, pasari, migratie, migrator, zbor, aripi, clatorie, calatorii, stulizat, metaforic, metafora, simbolism, simbolic, simbol, arhetip, arhetipal, liric, fantezie, imaginar, pana, pene, penaj, Europa, European, Est-European, Nord-American, aer, linie, linii, contrast, maxim, monocromatic, figurativ, abstract, arhitectura, europeana, cladiri, cladire, medieval, peisaj, feminin, femeie, figura, figuri, miscare, ritm, ritmuri, decorativ, viata, moarte, tranzitie, usor, spirit, spiritual, corp, imaterial, suflet, intangibil, tapiserie, tesut, tesuta, tesatura, tehnica, haute-lisse, gherghef, mana, manual, unicat, carton, colectii, colectie, colectionat, particular, particulara, premii, premiat, recunoastere, recunoscut, cunoscut, expozitie, expozitii, expus, comanda, comenzi