Mirela Leu

Born in 1989 and based in Bucharest, Romania, I studied Architecture and Design in high school, followed by Ethnology at university. After years of exploring different directions, in 2016 I returned to painting to reconnect with my true voice.I am drawn to a form of imagined realism. My early works were vibrant and filled with color, but over time, I felt the need for a deeper, more quiet language. I moved toward a darker palette, focusing on strong contrasts between light and shadow. Recurring symbols like branches, ravens, butterflies, and cracked faces became my way of showing how the subconscious breaks through to the surface. The images I don’t paint, or at least sketch, haunt me endlessly. It is the only language suitable for my inner experiences, and the place where I experience absolute freedom.

Ethnology at University of Bucharest - 2013
Architecture and Design at Art high school, Romania - 2008

September 2024 – “Dialoguri in culoare”, Casa Filipescu Cesianu, Bucuresti
June 2024 – “Fii Arta” at Casino Sinaia, Romania
April 2024 – “Aesthetic Anomalies” online exhibition, Art Collide
March 2017 – “Dreaming” at Crowne Plaza Bucharest Hotel, Gallery Elite Prof Art, Romania