The Paintbrush Factory: From Industrial Space to Nomadic Art Project in Cluj-Napoca
The Paintbrush Factory, an independent art venue located in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, functioned from 2009 until 2019 within a repurposed industrial facility. Established by a coalition of artists and cultural organizations, it emerged as Romania's most ambitious independent art center, accommodating more than eighty members, including Plan B Gallery and notable artists such as Adrian Ghenie. The center closed in 2019 due to rising rent, leading to its redevelopment into an IT hub. Its conclusion was commemorated with events titled The Paintbrush Factory – Ten Years. Following internal conflicts in 2016, it evolved into a nomadic project, with a team that featured Simina Corlat, Helga Thies, and Răzvan Anton, hosting over fifty events each year and achieving global acclaim. An article published on April 10, 2021, discusses themes of labor, fragility, and community.
Key facts
- The Paintbrush Factory operated from 2009 to 2019 in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
- It was a federation of cultural organizations and artists, including Plan B Gallery and Adrian Ghenie.
- The physical space closed in 2019 due to rent increases and gentrification.
- It transformed into a nomadic project focused on networks and research after 2019.
- Internal divisions in 2016 led some members to form Center of Interest.
- The project hosted over fifty events per year, involving more than 100 artists annually.
- International press coverage included articles in the New York Times and Art Press.
- The article was published on April 10, 2021, by Diana Marincu on ARTMargins Online.
Entities
Artists
- Diana Marincu
- Răzvan Anton
- Marius Bercea
- Radu Cioca
- Oana Fărcaș
- Cristina Gagiu
- Mihai Iepure Gorski
- Adrian Ghenie
- Ciprian Mureșan
- Cristian Rusu
- Șerban Savu
- Simina Corlat
- Helga Thies
- Theia Golea
- Alexandra Chițu
- Cristian Iacob
- Kinga Kelemen
- Istvan Szakáts
- Rarița Zbranca
- Smaranda Almășan
- Dragoș Bădiță
- Maria Balea
- Dan Beudean
- Maria Brudașcă
- Andreea Ciobîcă
- Istvan Cîmpan
- George Crîngașu
- Radu Comșa
- Cristina Curcan
- Denisa Curte
- Robert Fekete
- Attila Gräff
- Simon Cantemir Hauși
- Mihaela Hudrea
- Ioana Iacob
- Lucian Indrei
- Hortensia Mi Kafchin
- Gabriel Marian
- Irina Măgurean
- Flaviu Rogojan
- Eugen Roșca
- Mircea Suciu
- Corina Bucea
- Miki Braniște
- Cristina Bodnărescu
- Florin Caracala
- Mădălina Stănescu
- Victor Man
- Adorjáni Márta
- Flaviu Cacoveanu
- Norbert Costin
- Oana Hodade
- Nita Mocanu
- Adela Muntean
- Esra Oezen
- Ion Bitzan
- Mihai Olos
- Miklós Onucsán
- Sorin Vreme
- Nicolás Lamas
- Arantxa Etcheverria
- Szilárd Gáspár
- Andrea Phillips
- Jesús Carrillo
- Francisco Godoy Vega
- Félix Guattari
- Pablo Martinez
- Alina Șerban
- Charles Esche
- Zdenka Badovinac
- Katarina Šević
- Marion von Osten
- Fahim Amir
- Eva Egermann
- Peter Spillman
Institutions
- ARTMargins Online
- The Paintbrush Factory
- AltArt Foundation
- Plan B Gallery
- Sabot Gallery
- Lateral Art Space
- ColectivA
- GroundFloor Group
- Cluj Est
- Plan B Foundation
- Intact
- Bazis
- Baril
- Superliquidato
- Peles Empire
- Pilot
- Raft
- Arta Capoeira
- Grupa Mică Association
- Art-hoc
- Balla & Vajna Projects
- New York Times
- T Magazine
- Art Press
- Res magazine
- HuffPost
- Haunch of Venison Gallery
- ARKEN Museum of Modern Art
- Espace Culturel Louis Vuitton
- Centre for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle
- IDEA arts + society
- Tajan
- Transylvania Film Festival
- Cluj Art Weekend
- Times’Up
- TEMPS D’IMAGES Festival
- Kunstenpunt
- Flanders Arts Institute
- L’Internationale
- Sternberg Press
- Independent Curators International
- Impex
- Center of Interest
- Casa Tranzit
- Studio Protokoll
- Balkon journal
- Galeria Ataș
- Art Encounters Biennial
- e-flux Journal
- Fabrica de Pensule
Locations
- Cluj-Napoca
- Romania
- Zurich
- Switzerland
- Paris
- France
- Berlin
- Germany
- Warsaw
- Poland
- Brussels
- Belgium
- Timișoara
- Budapest
- Hungary
Sources
- ARTMargins —
- ARTMargins —