Today we’d like to introduce you to Olesea Albu.
Hi Olesea, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I began my artistic journey in Moldova, where I lived, studied, and gradually shaped myself as an artist until 2024. I earned my Master’s degree in scenography and costume design at the Academy of Music, Theatre, and Fine Arts in Chișinău. Life there was full and intense: theatre projects, my first exhibitions, working with different materials, all of it gave me a strong foundation and confidence in my profession.
For several years, I actively participated in international group projects, created two solo exhibitions, and worked as a scenographer. At the same time, I kept developing my studio practice, sometimes quiet and focused, sometimes more experimental and unpredictable.
In 2024, I moved to the United States. That step changed my path significantly: a new culture, a different professional landscape, more opportunities and, honestly, more responsibility. I now live in Georgia, continue working as an artist, and study at the Georgia Film Academy, where I’m deepening my interest in the visual side of filmmaking and expanding my creative tools.
Little by little, I’m blending my European experience with the American environment, exploring new formats and collaborations, and building a career where art, education, and visual projects grow together.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. Most of my path has been a mix of progress and uncertainty – probably like for many artists.
Back in Moldova, the challenges were mostly practical: limited resources, a small art market, and the feeling that you have to create your own opportunities from zero. It taught me persistence, but it was not always easy.
Moving to the United States brought a different set of struggles. Suddenly everything was new, the culture, the professional environment, even the rhythm of life. I had to rebuild my network, rethink how to present my work, and learn to navigate a much larger, more competitive art scene. There were moments when I doubted whether I would find my place here.
At the same time, those challenges pushed me to grow. They made me more flexible, more open to collaboration, and more confident in my voice as an artist. So the road wasn’t smooth, but it shaped me in ways I’m grateful for.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I work at the intersection of painting, scenography, and visual storytelling. I specialize in exploring the tension between vulnerability and strength, often blending figurative elements with abstraction. My background in theatre and costume design still informs everything I do, I think about space, gesture, and atmosphere as much as about color or composition.
People often recognize my work for its presence figures that dissolve into their surroundings or hold their ground in a suspended moment, textures that carry emotion, and layers that reveal contrasts between fragility and resilience. I’m proud of building a practice that spans countries and disciplines, from theatre projects and exhibitions in Europe to continuing my work and studies in the U.S. at the Georgia Film Academy.
What sets me apart, I think, is this combination of disciplines and perspectives. I don’t separate painting, scenography, or digital work; for me, they feed each other. That allows me to approach every project from a unique angle, creating spaces where viewers can oscillate between heart and mind, control and surrender, the earthly and the boundless.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I’ve been very fortunate with my teachers and mentors. I love art history and could spend days listening to it. During lessons, I would immerse myself in the stories, mentally traveling through time. The lives of certain artists have been incredibly inspiring, some have even changed the course of my thinking in my own work. I especially admire Botticelli, Bosch, and the deeply moving works of Mikhail Vrubel.
I was particularly inspired by Ekaterina Yudina at the Academy of Music, Theatre, and Fine Arts, she told art history in such a way that I could almost feel each era. Felix Matusovich, teaching stagecraft, helped me understand the technical nuances of theatre, instilling discipline and a love for scenography. Yurii Matei taught me to freely work with ideas and showed that even the boldest, wildest concepts can be shaped beautifully.
And, of course, I continue to receive tremendous support from my mother. She always believes in me and, even if she doesn’t always fully understand every detail of my work, she takes pride in it and admires what I create.
Each of these people has left a mark, teaching me to value both skill and creative freedom. Thanks to them, and the support of my family, I have been able to shape my own path in art.
Pricing:
- Original paintings: starting from $1,200
- Limited edition prints: starting from $150
- Custom commissions: pricing varies depending on size and complexity; starting around $800
- Workshops and private lessons: $50–$100 per hour, depending on format
Contact Info:
- Website: https://albuart.com
- Instagram: @albuart__
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/olesia.albu/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olesea-albu
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@albuart
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@albuart
Image Credits
Olesea Albu
