Biography

Cristian Rusu

(b.1972, Cluj, Romania) lives and works in Cluj.
He graduated the University of Art and Design in Cluj, and he received his MA at the same university. In 2014, he received his PhD in theater theory from Babeş-Bolyai University in Cluj.

Visual artist and stage designer, Cristian Rusu holds a teaching position at the Faculty of Theatre and Television, Babeş-Bolyai University.

Solo Exhibitions

2022
Ghost Geometry, Kunsthalle Bega, Timisoara, RO

2020
The Only Thing I Am Sure about in This Life Lies above My Head, Galeria Plan B, Berlin, DE

2019
Abstract Cabinet with Real Figures, White Cuib, Cluj, RO

2016
M. Teodor Graur, Cristian Rusu, Galeria Plan B, Cluj, RO (duo)

2009
Space Itself, Galeria Plan B, Berlin, DE
Fear Itself, Galeria Plan B, Cluj, RO

2007
Pavillon Tyrol, installation at the Künstlerhaus Büchsenhausen, Innsbruck, AT

2005
The Very Best of Red, Yellow and Blue, KunstRaum Goethestrasse, Linz, AT
Recent History: Documents, Kunsthaus Raskolnikow, Dresden, DE

2004
Micographia – The Authentic Romanian Engraving Method Developed by Cristian Rusu since 2002, Néon Gallery, Lyon, FR
The Very Best of Red, Yellow and Blue, Studio Protokoll, Cluj, RO

2002
Micographia – The Authentic Romanian Engraving Method Developed by Cristian Rusu since 2002, Galeria Ataş, Cluj, RO

2001
Punkissimo, Sindan Cultural Centre, Cluj, RO

Selected Group Exhibitions

2024
Reenactment – Recostituire il passato, Galleria D’arte Accademia di Romania, Rome, IT

2023
Bienala Jurnal de virus | Tulpini criptice, Diptych Art Space, Bucharest, RO
Volume through Layers, curated by Ciprian Muresan, ‘U’ Baracks, Timisoara, RO
Different Degrees of Freedom, Kunsthalle Bega, Timisoara, RO

2021
I need to watch things die (from a good safe distance),MATCA artspace, Cluj, RO
FOOTBALL. REALISM OF THE GAME, Floreasca Sports Hall, Bucharest, RO

2019
Remembering Landscape, The National Museum of Contemporary Art (MNAC), Bucharest, RO

2018
DOUBLE HEADS MATCHES. A selection of contemporary artworks from four Romanian private collections, New Budapest Gallery, Budapest, HU
Expozitia riveranilor #3, CoPilot, Fabrica de Pensule, Cluj, RO
Memoria ca viziune, European Center for Contemporary Art, Cluj, RO

2017
On the Sex of Angels, Nicodim Gallery, Bucharest, RO
Cristian Rusu & Michael Takeo Magruder – Stranded Monuments2, Galeria Plan B, Cluj, RO
Life – A User’s Manual, ArtEncounters 2nd edition, Timisoara, RO

2016
I’m the Invisible Man, The National Museum of Contemporary Art, Bucharest, RO
The Black Cabinet, part of No Man’s Land – Zece discursuri din arta contemporana romaneasca, Rezidenta Scena9, Bucharest, RO
Ein Loch im Meer, Württembergischer Kunstverein, Stuttgart, DE
Walk &Talk Festival, Ponta Delgada, São Miguel, Azore, PT
Monuments to the Ruins of Tomorrow, Galeria Plan B, Cluj, RO
BERLIN SHOW #4: Inventory, Galeria Plan B, Berlin, DE

2015
Accumulation of Matter, LEHRTER SIEBZEHN, Berlin, DE
Other Rooms, Galeria Plan B, Cluj, RO

2014
Through the Collector’s Eye – Works of the Generation 2000 from Cluj in Three Romanian Collections, The Office, Cluj, RO
Pensive Pictures, Goodbye! – Fantastic Geography and Imaginary Communities, Higgs Field Gallery, Budapest, HU
A FEW GRAMS OF RED, YELLOW, BLUE. New Romanian Art, Centre for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle, Warsaw, PL

2013
Psalmul 69, Ciprian Muresan’s Studio, Fabrica de Pensule / The Paintbrush Factory, Cluj, RO
OPEN MONUMENT, Kunstraum Kreuzberg Bethanien, Berlin, DE

2012
Salonul de vară, Galeria Plan B, Cluj, RO
MONUMENTAL, City Business Center / Jecza Galley, Timișoara, RO
Európai Utasok / European Travellers – Art from Cluj Today, Mȕcsarnok Kunsthalle, Budapest, HU
Global without Globalization: From Mathematics to China, Salonul de proiecte, The National Museum of Contemporary Art, Bucharest, RO

2011
Subtle Construction, Transboavista / VPF / Art Edificio / Plataforma Revolver, Lisbon, PT

2010
Romanian Cultural Resolution, Spinnerei, Leipzig, DE

2008
Berlin Show #1, Galeria Plan B, Berlin, DE
The Doppler Effect, Romanian Cultural Institute, New York, US

2003
Re:Location 2, invited artist in the project The Longer the Break, the Bigger Success by Markus Seidl, galeria UAP, Cluj, RO; O.K Offenes Kulturhaus, Linz, AT

Duo van der Mixt (Cristian Rusu and Mihai Pop) was an artist duo from Cluj, Romania, active between 2002 and 2007.

2006
Exploring urban spaces, Billboart in Bucharest, RO and Usti, CZ
Absent without Leave [AWOL], 2nd Edition of The Biennial of Young Artists, Bucharest, RO

2005
The Very Best of Red, Yellow and Blue, KunstRaum Goethestrasse, Linz, AT
No significant incidents to report, Galeria Nouă, Bucharest, RO
On Difference #1, Local Contexts – Hybrid Spaces, Württembergischer Kunstverein, Stuttgart, DE
Belgrade in the Past and Present, Galeria Prodajna, Belgrade, RS
Cover Story, Romanian Video Works, Display Gallery, Prague, CZ
Galeria Nouă, Bucharest; ForumStadt Park, Graz, AT
DocuFiction, Trafó House of Contemporary Arts, Budapest, HU

2004
Revolutions Reloaded, Laboratorio Romania, ARTRA Gallery, Milan, IT
Play Gallery, Berlin, DE
DocuFiction, REX Gallery, Belgrade, RS
Images of Violence / Violence of Images, 1st Edition of The Biennial of Young Artists, Bucharest, RO

2003
Re:Location 4, Casino Luxembourg – Forum d’art Contemporain, Luxembourg, LU

Bibliography

Exhibition Catalogues, Artist Books, Monographs

• 2017
  ”One Place after Another” in Life – a User’s Manual, ArtEncounters Biennale 2nd edition. Timisoara & Arad: Azero, 2017, p. 144. [catalogue]

  2015
  Jecu, Marta. Architecture and the Virtual. Chicago: Intellect Ltd, 2015, p. 74–77.

  2014
  1.Gorzadek, Ewa. A FEW GRAMS OF RED, YELLOW, BLLUE New Art from Romania. Warszawa: Centre for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle, p. 112-117. [catalogue]
  2.Gorzadek, Ewa. A FEW GRAMS OF RED, YELLOW, BLLUE New Art from Romania. Warszawa: Centre for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle, 2014, p. 50-51. [catalogue]

  2013
  Angel, Judit. European Travellers : Art from Cluj Today. Budapest: Műcsarnok, 2013. [catalogue]

  2012
  Tajan Espace. Vente au profit de la Fabrica de Pensule, Cluj, Paris – Mardi 24 Avril 2012. Paris: ESPACE TAJAN, 2012, p. 56-57. [catalogue]
  Diquinzio, Apsara. Six Lines of Light: Shifting Geographies in Contemporary Art. San Francisco: The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, 2012, p. 111. [catalogue]

  2011
  Jecu, Marta. Subtle Construction. Lisbon: Bypass Editions, 2011, p. 86-93. [catalogue]
  Niculescu, Alexandru; Bojenoiu, Adrian. Romanian Cultural Resolution, Contemporary Romanian Art. Ostfildern: Hatje Cantz Verlag, 2011, p. 110-113. [catalogue]

  2010
  Mircan, Mihnea; Neal, Jane; Radu, Magda. Edited by Mihai Pop, Colecția Mircea Pinte. Cluj: Galeria Plan B and Museum of Art Cluj Napoca, 2010. [catalogue]

  2009
  Mureșan, Ciprian. A collection of texts by artists I admire, on works of mine that express and fuel that affinity. Cluj: Plan B Cluj / Berlin, 2009, p. 62-64. [artist book]

Articles and reviews

• 2017
  Gergely, Nagy. ”Exploring the Myth of Cluj and other Stories Stories II,” Art Portal.hu, May, 2017.

  2016
  Cojocaru, Georgiana. ”Modernism 4.0. Forever (in)visible,” Revista Arta.ro, March, 2016. Plesa, Dan. „Conversatii cu Cristian Rusu,“ art7.fm, October, 2016.

  2010
  IDEA artă + societate / IDEA arts + society 36-37. Cluj, IDEA Design & Print Cluj and IDEA Fundation, 2010, p. 69.

  2009
  Mircan, Mihnea. ”Fear Itself,” artmap.com, January, 2009.

Press

• Gergely, Nagy. ”Exploring the Myth of Cluj and other Stories Stories II,” artportal.hu, 2017

• Cojocaru, Georgiana. ”Modernism 4.0. Forever (in)visible,” Revista Arta.ro, 2016