Sammy Loren Reports from RAD Art Fair in Bucharest
The fourth edition of the Romanian Art Dealers (RAD) art fair took place at Hotel Caro in Bucharest, co-founded by Daniela Pălimariu and Catinca Tabacaru. Featuring 31 booths predominantly from Romanian galleries, the event highlighted Victoria Zidaru's central installation, 'Donate a Word' (2025). Other significant pieces included Nona Inescu's 'Introverts' (2025) and Ciprian Mureșan's Lenin busts. Ana Lupaș's 'Identity shirt, first generation' (1969) was presented by Relicvar gallery, while Andreea Ilie's 'Triada Maya (May Triad)' (2026) incorporated Bolshevik themes. A Curatorial Summit with 35 curators and a dinner at the British Ambassador's residence were part of the fair. Critic Simon Njami remarked that Romanian artists remain unaffected by market pressures. The event concluded with a poetry reading at Bar Ton.
Key facts
- RAD art fair fourth edition at Hotel Caro in Bucharest.
- Co-founded by Catinca Tabacaru and Daniela Pălimariu.
- 31 booths, mostly Romanian galleries and artists.
- Victoria Zidaru's 'Donate a Word' (2025) central installation.
- Nona Inescu's 'Introverts' (2025) at Catinca Tabacaru Gallery.
- Relicvar gallery from Cluj showed Ana Lupaș's 'Identity shirt, first generation' (1969).
- Ciprian Mureşan's ceramic busts of Lenin at Plan B.
- Andreea Ilie's 'Triada Maya' (2026) with steel-and-glazed ceramic carnations.
- Anca Țintea exhibited at S.L.S.R.L. gallery.
- Curatorial Summit with 35 international curators.
- Dinner at British Ambassador's residence.
- Luana Hildebrandt compared Bucharest to early-2000s Miami Basel.
- Collector Avi Cicirean's collection is 99% Romanian.
- Grecu collection of 600+ pieces at KPMG offices.
- Simon Njami commented on Romanian artists' market independence.
- Nicodim gallery absent from fair.
- Poetry reading at Bar Ton.
- Critic Bogdan Bǎlan discussed provincialism.
Entities
Artists
- Sammy Loren
- Catinca Tabacaru
- Daniela Pălimariu
- Victoria Zidaru
- Nona Inescu
- Ciprian Mureşan
- Andreea Ilie
- Anca Țintea
- Ana Lupaș
- Radu Oreian
- Luana Hildebrandt
- Avi Cicirean
- Simon Njami
- Bogdan Bǎlan
- Andrei Ispas
- Vasile Istrate
- Andrei Jecza
- Mihaela Nica
- Alexandru Rus
- Geanina Grecu
- Tudor Grecu
- Stefany Lazar
Institutions
- Romanian Art Dealers (RAD)
- Catinca Tabacaru Gallery
- Sandwich Gallery
- Relicvar
- Plan B
- Jecza Gallery
- S.L.S.R.L.
- KPMG
- Romanian Cultural Institute in New York
- Tate
- 1969 Gallery
- Nicodim
- Cultured Magazine
- British Ambassador's residence
- Hotel Caro
- Bar Ton
- Point
Locations
- Bucharest
- Romania
- Cluj
- Transylvania
- Los Angeles
- New York
- London
- Paris
- Berlin
- Tokyo
- Sosnovy Bor
- St. Petersburg
- France
- United States
- Europe