Press Release in English: Adela Petrescu: The Geometry of a Pictorial Dream_EN

Press Release in Romanian: Adela Petrescu: Geometria unui vis pictural_RO

Museum of Art Brașov and Ivan Gallery are pleased to invite you to the opening of the exhibition “Adela
Petrescu: The Geometry of a Pictorial Dream”, which will take place on Friday, February 21, 2025, at the
museum’s headquarters at 21, Eroilor Boulevard.

The exhibition highlights more than 80 works signed by Adela Petrescu (1927-2019), illustrating an
artistic career spanning seven decades. The artist distinguished herself by a discreet but profound
activity, exploring painting and drawing as forms of introspection and communication.
Adela Petrescu studied drawing with her aunt, the sculptor Theodora Cernat Popp, and worked in the
studio of Cecillia Cuțescu-Storck. She attended the Faculty of Philology, in parallel with the preparatory
year at the Faculty of Fine Arts, under the guidance of Nicolae Dărăscu.
In the social context of the time, his “unhealthy background” led her to give up her studies at the School
of Fine Arts because of the prohibitive fees for families considered to be wealthy. This financial
constraint was also reflected in her choice of materials, as the artist often painted on cardboard and
paper, ingeniously exploiting both sides of the medium.
Adela Petrescu was a devoted supporter of her husband, the prose writer Radu Petrescu, who in turn
encouraged her to pursue her passion for painting. However, her exhibition activity was extremely
limited. Her exhibition debut was in 1978, when she presented a work in a group show, a moment
encouraged by her husband.
Her first solo show took place in 1982 at the Schiller House in Bucharest, with the support of her son-inlaw, the artist Ion Grigorescu. Then, after a break of more than two decades, a second solo exhibition
took place in 2005 at the Brâncovenesc Palace in Mogoșoaia. This was followed by a family exhibition
hosted by the Galeria Romană, with Ruxandra Grigorescu (his daughter), Ion Grigorescu (his son-in-law) and Maria Grigorescu (his niece).
In 2020, her works were included in the exhibition “Marginalized, Isolated and Excluded” organized by
the Museum of Recent Art, bringing her a belated but deserved recognition. Subsequently, in the fall of
2024, Ivan Gallery dedicated an extensive exhibition to her in Bucharest, marking a rediscovery of her
work. Continuing this path, Adela Petrescu’s creations will now be presented to the public in Brasov, in
the exhibition “Adela Petrescu: geometry of a pictorial dream”, offering a new perspective on her artistic
universe.
The works on display include oils, pastels, drawings and photographs, capturing self-portraits, genre
scenes, still lifes and urban or rural landscapes. These works constitute an intimate diary dedicated to
her husband, reflecting personal observations and deep introspections.
For the first time, the exhibition will include a documentary film made by the Grigorescu family, giving
an intimate insight into the life and work of Andrea Petrescu.

We invite you to discover the artistic universe of Adela Petrescu at the Museum of Art Brașov, in an
exceptional event dedicated to the posthumous rediscovery of the work of a remarkable artist!