Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Calina Coman. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Calina, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. One of the most important things small businesses can do, in our view, is to serve underserved communities that are ignored by giant corporations who often are just creating mass-market, one-size-fits-all solutions. Talk to us about how you serve an underserved community.

It’s nothing new that art communities, especially within the contemporary art field, are constantly up against a lot of challenges. Many artists, especially those without gallery representation or backing from a powerful institution, struggle not just for opportunities but also for the means to create their work, and eventually, they end up relying on side projects or commissions just to get by, and that makes it hard to remain focused on that project that they envisioned for so long, yet had no resources to put together, or in some cases, even start it.

And because of this lack of support from galleries, museums, or other institutions, I think a big part of what makes potentially great art in Romania often comes from alternative venues. Independent projects, exhibition spaces, artist-run initiatives – these are mostly self-funded or rely on a small amount of state funding. Here they come, collaborations with art historians, curators, art producers, writers, and other creative professionals that make a difference. I believe these people come out as the helping hands that keep these spaces, practices, and projects alive, making it possible for artists to keep doing what they’re doing.

I see the curator’s role as an external pillar. Much like a structural reinforcement applied to a building that requires consolidation, the curator serves as an outside component that unifies all elements, ensuring overall stability and coherence to a project. As a pillar that strengthens and sustains, the curator gives off a framework, direction, and suitable context that preserves the integrity of both the artwork and the artist’s vision, and aligns with them.

Calina, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

It was a blind shift that occurred when I switched academic paths, moving from studying foreign languages—namely Arabic and Portuguese—to studying Art History. I had been familiar with art since childhood, as my dad is an art teacher, though the subject was never pushed on me with messages like “you should follow this because I like it, or because I want it, or because it’s good for you” (and I get why—the industry is savage).

During my studies at the National University of Arts in Bucharest, I benefited from scholarships that allowed me to travel abroad and study art history, critique, and curatorship in France and Portugal. It was an exposure that helped me become familiar with the art scenes there, and I discovered that I also love traveling, visiting exhibitions, and debriefing with friends or colleagues as if I were on a TV news report. After a while, I received an invitation to write about exhibitions, which led me to start sharing my thoughts in art publications.

I curated solo exhibitions and group shows in Romania, spent some time working at a gallery, and then, in 2021, I received an invitation from Mircea Modreanu, founder of ETAJ artist-run space, to partner on future projects for ETAJ.

Since 2021, ETAJ artist-run space, which is an NGO, has started participating in art fairs, mostly dedicated to artist-run initiatives. The aim was not necessarily to sell everything (though we love the idea) but to expand our network, make new friends, collaborate on new projects or exhibitions, and exchange ideas. My colleagues and I began meeting other artists, curators, and art professionals in Europe and the United States, and things started to shape up better than we expected.

Of course, that doesn’t mean challenges and bumps in the road haven’t been present. I think it gets harder when many things are happening simultaneously—personal, professional, or health matters that demand your attention, both mind and body. That’s been the case for me over the past few months, as I’ve juggled big and small projects. I am currently a guest curator for the Contemporary Art Pavilion at Art Safari Museum for the 15th edition, which is dedicated to women artists. This is the largest exhibition in Romania happening on this date, featuring 46 young women artists, and it will be open from September 6 until December 15, 2024, so if it happens for you to come to Bucharest, come visit it.

In the meantime, though, together with the ETAJ collective, we’ll be participating in the TRYST Art Fair in Los Angeles, from August 23 to 25, with a performative exhibition titled Breaking Bread: The Tale of a Revolution, in collaboration with the Torrance Art Museum and support from the Romanian Cultural Institute.

I am so eager to see both events filled with visitors and to lose myself in conversations with all those interested.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Recently, I’ve found it rewarding to go back and review old projects or writings. It’s funny how they weren’t nearly as bad as I initially thought.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I’ve come to realize that the most valuable resource we have is ourselves. While this might seem obvious, it’s easy to overlook. When my mind isn’t in the right place, it’s not necessarily the quality of my ideas that hinders progress, but rather how I feel — and that, in turn, affects everything else. That’s why taking breaks and looking after ourselves is so important. It’s not about striving for perfection, but about understanding that, when we care for our well-being, everything else tends to fall into place more easily.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calinacoman/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calina.capslock
• Linkedin: https://fr.linkedin.com/in/calina-coman-4852221a5?trk=public_profile_browsemap
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/etaj_artistrunspace/
  https://revistaarta.ro/en/author/calina/

Image Credits

Ilina Schileru, Ioana Aron, MNTRplusC, ETAJ artist-run space