150 years of Brâncuși, in the spotlight in Craiova. See the events here!
Editorial / Discover Dolj&Craiova Recommendations
The 150th anniversary of the birth of the Oltenian sculptor Constantin Brâncuși cannot go unnoticed in Romania and especially in Craiova, the city through which the brilliant artist's path passed for several years. Craiova owes a lot to Brâncuși, and the Dolj County Council, through its subordinate institutions, has prepared several events for the people of Craiova and our visitors for this culturally charged period. Here's what you can visit in the coming days, culminating with February 19, Brâncuși's birthday:
February 18
- "Paleolog – Brâncuși – A Neccessary Alphabet" - "Constantin Brâncuși" Center
The event consists of an exhibition whose opening will take place on Wednesday, February 18, at 5:00 PM, at the "Constantin Brâncuși" Center, which brings to light the personality of V. G. Paleolog (1890-1979) and his sustained efforts to make Brâncuși's work known.
The event has a documentary character and presents to the public books, documents, manuscripts and photographs from the family collection and the collection of the Craiova Art Museum. Among the exhibits, we find the studies and volumes of V. G. Paleolog regarding the work of Constantin Brâncuși, together with two other projects, “Informatica Brâncuși” and “Memorialul Brâncuși”. Thanks to Paleolog, the last physical testimonies of Brâncuși’s studio in Paris were brought to Craiova, with the idea of recreating a symbolic replica of the studio, under the name “Memorialul Brâncuși”. The documentary area is completed with original pieces from the period when Brâncuși was a student at the School of Arts and Crafts in Craiova, located in the collection of the Craiova Art Museum and the “Constantin Brâncuși” Technological High School, a portrait of V. G. Paleolog (patinated plaster), made by Anghel Chiciu in Paris, in 1912, and a bronze copy of the work Vitellius, by Constantin Brâncuși, from the collection of the Craiova Art Museum.
The exhibition will be open from February 19 to May 17, from Tuesday to Sunday, between 10:00 and 17:00, and the access is free.
- "The Eternal Brâncuși" - Museum of the Romanian Book and Exile
Also on February 18, starting at 18:00, the opening of the exhibition "The Eternal Brancusi" will take place at the Museum of the Romanian Book and Exile. Organized by the Association of Photographers "Dacia Malvensis", in collaboration with the Dolj County Council, the Craiova City Hall, the Union of Professional Journalists of Romania" - "Tudor Arghezi" branch and the "Alexandru and Aristia Aman" County Library, the exhibition brings together the works of 34 artists from Craiova, as well as from the entire country and the diaspora. In addition, the event will also feature two exhibitions revealing lesser-known facets of the artist: “Brâncuși the Esoteric”, supported by the well-known publicist Dan Lupescu, and “Brâncuși the Photographer”, presented by Silviu Cristian Mirescu - a look at the artist who knew how to shape not only matter, but also light.
At the end of the evening, the audience will witness an artistic moment offered by the “Gaudeamus” string quartet of the University of Craiova, composed of Darius Melencovici, Andreea Poenaru, Ana Maria Odină and Gabriela Sârbu.
February 19
- „Brâncuși's Contemporaries” – Oltenia Museum – History-Archaeology Section
"Brâncuși's Contemporaries", an exhibition that will be opened on February 19, at 11:00, at the History-Archaeology Section of the Oltenia Museum, represents a collection of artworks, documents and photographs that explore the influences that shaped the artistic universe of that time.
In addition, in the permanent collections of the Ethnography Section – Casa Băniei, visitors can always find objects of popular wear, with their geometric motifs, used by the sculptor Constantin Brâncuși in his art.
- Free Guided Tours at the "Constantin Brâncuși" Cabinet – Craiova Art Museum
On February 19, the Craiova Art Museum invites you to participate in the free guided tours organized for groups, according to the following schedule: 10:30 - 11:30, 12:00 - 13:00, 14:30 - 15:30, 16:00 - 17:00. Registrations for the free guided tours at the "Constantin Brâncuși" Cabinet can be made at the phone number 0251.412.342 or by e-mail, at info@muzeuldeartacraiova.ro.
Beyond this period, at the Craiova Art Museum you can admire the works of Constantin Brâncuși at any time, which are eight in number. These are the sculptures "Sărutul", "Domnișoara Pogany", "Cap de copil", "Torso (Coapsă)", "Orgoliu", "Vitellius", but also the works "Ecorșeu" and "Scaun colțar". The visiting schedule for the Art Museum is as follows: Tuesday-Sunday, between 10:00-17:00 (last entry at 16:30).
- "Children discover Brâncuși" - foyer of the "Oltenia" Philharmonic
From 17:30, in the foyer of the "Oltenia" Philharmonic, the curious can admire paintings, as part of a unique exhibition organized by the County Library" Alexandru and Aristia Aman", together with the Dolj County Centre for Culture and Art.
- Choreographic moment "Brâncuși in motion" - "Mihai Viteazul" Square, 12:00 PM, organizer: Dolj County Centre for Culture and Art
- Visual art exhibition "Portal" - Cromatic Galleries, 16:00, organizer: Dolj County Center for Culture and Art
- "Bird in Space" - "Oltenia" Philharmonic
The extraordinary show "Bird in Space" is an event of high cultural excellence, which will take place on the evening of February 19, starting at 18:00, in the concert hall of the "Oltenia" Philharmonic. Composed by the well-known Serbian musician Dejan Ilijic, the symphonic suite that gives the evening its name will be performed by the Symphony Orchestra of the host institution, under the baton of the young Romanian conductor Eduard Dabrowski. Also, a spectacular appearance will be that of Eugenia Nicolae, one of the artists who manages to bring the essence of the Romanian soul closer to the new generations.
In a perfect complement to the concert, fragments of the script “Șurubul de teasc” will also be presented, a text that was the basis of another show, produced by the Dolj County Council and hosted, in 2025, by the “Constantin Brâncuși” Center. This consists of imaginary dialogues, spoken over time – one with Maria Tănase, the other with Nicolae Titulescu –, being voices that return not as shadows, but as living breaths, called into a space of evocation and emotion.
February 20
- Exhibition with previously unseen pieces from the heritage of the Romanian Book and Exile Museum, 12:00 PM
February 22
- Exhibition "Brâncuși ne privește pe toți " - Romanian Book and Exile Museum
On February 22, from 6:00 PM, at the Romanian Book and Exile Museum, we will be able to enjoy the traveling exhibition "Brâncuși ne privește pe toți ", coordinated by the manager of the "Constantin Brâncuși" Research, Documentation and Promotion Center, Cornel Mihalache. The exhibition is a journey of knowledge of Brâncuși, presented through photographs, documents, stories, histories of his famous sculptures, in order to reveal the genius of modern sculpture as best as possible - and from all possible angles.
Moreover, the “Alexandru & Aristia Aman” County Library has books and documents with and about the great Brâncuși on display during this period. The exhibition can be visited in the “Acad. Dinu C. Giurescu” Hall and brings together works such as “Brâncuși la Târgu-Jiu” by Ion Miclea, “Romanian Brâncuși” – album, “Brâncuși: monograph” by Dan Grigorescu or “Miracolul Brâncuși” by Ion Șoldea and Dumitru Bunoiu.
Brâncuși is a part of us, as Romanians, and especially of our local culture, of the people of Craiova and Dolj. Getting to know him better and telling others about him is the most beautiful manner to pay homage to him. Discover Brâncuși on his birthday, here, at home!