WIN Gallery: Looking back, your studies at the “Nicolae Grigorescu” Institute of Fine Arts, in the studio of master Corneliu Baba, were decisive for your subsequent career. What did you learn about high standards and expectations? 

Marinela Măntescu-Isac: I had the joy and good fortune to have Corneliu Baba as my teacher. This year marks the 120th anniversary of his birth, and I want to say that he was a very good teacher and educator; he knew how to speak simply, yet in a complex way with his students, and he knew how to command respect. He would tell us about the stages of his creative periods, about exhibitions; he was organized. I loved watching him build his work, how he shaped it. He drew his inspiration from the Renaissance. Also, he was very colourful; he had a feel for colour, texture, and composition—things he passed on to me. At the same time, he was also demanding, and that came through in his painting as well.

I appreciated Corneliu Baba first and foremost for his presence. You could see and feel the dignity within him.

WIN Gallery: Curating involves in-depth research, developing an exhibition concept, promoting and managing collections, and a host of other elements. How does this process unfold for you? 

Marinela Măntescu-Isac: To be a curator, one must know the craft, know the artists, know how to recognize artistic quality, perseverance in the craft, and seriousness—things I’ve observed over the years at art camps in Romania and abroad, where I`ve exchanged artistic experiences and socialized extensively with artists.

Each participant brought different styles and different perspectives on life and artistic expression, whether through painting, graphic art, sculpture, tapestry, or other mediums. A curator must know what to look for in each artist; regardless of the art form, they must be able to perceive and recognize artistic value regardless of the artistic movements involved, and mostly, to discover artistic value.

Because I have a broad openness to culture, I’ve had the chance to work alongside artists from all fields—writers, musicians, composers, visual artists. I’ve focused on painting, especially since I try to discover the artistic qualities of all visual artists.

WIN Gallery: Why WIN Gallery? What sets this gallery apart, from the perspective of a curator and an artist at the peak of their career?

Marinela Măntescu-Isac: WIN Gallery is a leading art gallery, a place where value is recognized and where the finest visual artists can find their place. We’ve also hosted book launches. It’s a place where artists come because they feel truly valued, a place where they feel at home, socialize, and enjoy a unique atmosphere. The space showcases the artists’ work.

I try to bring together the most representative works of artists from all over the country. It’s a competition to participate and a joy for me to be here and to work alongside this team. 

WIN Gallery: You have extremely loyal collectors with whom you have cultivated close friendships over the course of your life. How does an artist manage to keep a collector’s interest alive for decades? 

Marinela Măntescu-Isac: I have many collector friends in Romania and abroad from all walks of life and areas of activity. They have given me the courage by purchasing and appreciating my works and my labour at their true value. And for that, I would like to thank them. They have given me life. I have painted landscapes, flowers, portraits, and still life. No specific theme has ever been imposed on me. I`m returning to what I`ve said earlier: EVERY WORK HAS ITS BUYER AND ITS ADMIRER.

WIN Gallery: Which contemporary artist from outside Romania would you like to have a conversation with, over coffee?

Marinela Măntescu-Isac: I’d love to sit down for a long coffee with my good friend, the painter Horia Roșca, who lives in Germany. We were recently at a camp in Hărman, where we chatted and reminisced about all the mutual friends we mentioned. We were (and still are!) a generation of great artists.