Abstract Artist
ARTIST BIO
Cristina Balan is a Moldova-based abstract artist. Born in 1977, she studied arts from the age of five. Very early on, her works were exhibited at various artistic performances in Moldova and abroad. The fall of the Soviet Union paused Cristina’s creative ascension, and after graduating the School of Fine Arts she had to work in the corporate world to be able to support herself. In her thirties, she became a prominent business community leader, and in early forties was appointed as the Ambassador of Moldova to the United States.
​
In 2019, after an almost 20-year hiatus from painting, Cristina returned full-time to art, her abstract paintings being quickly noticed and appreciated by the public. Modern art magazines including Diafano (Spain), Art Hole and Boomer (UK) featured her works. Her paintings have been displayed in art shows in Washington D.C., New York City and Kiev. Cristina’s works are currently featured by galleries from NYC, Tokyo, and Barcelona.
​
​
Artist Statement
​
Art is beauty, harmony, and depth to me. It uplifts humanity and that is my contribution to the world. I aspire to make the invisible visible, to open the human heart, to awaken feelings deep inside all of us. I use acrylic on canvas, and sometimes molding paste to give texture to my works. Although I am seen as an abstract artist, each of my works is unique, born of pure inspiration and of my intention to help transform the world.
​
​
Exhibitions
​
June 2025, Barcelona: Solo art show ”A Tribute to Madonna: Solstice of the Divine Feminine”, Art Nou 277 art gallery
June 2025, Chisinau: Group art show “Moldova Has Art”, National Museum of History
December 2023, Treviso: Group art show Grolla d'Orro, Santa Caterina Museum
2023, Bucharest: Group art show “Tailored Metamorphosis”, Romanian design week, Galateca gallery
March-April 2023, Transylvania: Art residency at Amfiteatrul Transylvania hotel;
2023, Bucharest: Group art show "I Walk the Line. We Walk the Spiral" at Galateca modern art gallery
2022, Chisinau: Group art show "InSpirArt" at Artcor Centre for Creative Industries;
2021, Ontario: Group art show “Love – 2021” powered by Exhibizone, Biafarin;
2021, Kiev: Group art show “Ecological Rakurs” hosted by the National Folk Decorative Art Museum;
2020, Chisinau: Solo Art Show “Transformation” hosted by the Creative Lab Loft 13;
2020, New York City: “The Muse” group art show, by Gallery 104 and the New York Art Centre
2019, Chisinau: Solo art show “Universe”, National Palace of the Republic of Moldova
April 2019, Washington D.C.: Group art show organized by Women Diplomatic Series
​
Selected Media Features
​
2025, London: iconic i-D magazine featured Balan’s work in the Ray-Ban RED campaign
2024, Washington D.C.: Washington Diplomat wrote about Balan’s solo art show in Barcelona
2023, Bucharest: News.ro, curatorial.ro, modernism.ro featured the group art show with Cristina’s participation
2021, Netherlands: Interview with Vincent Moveland, founder of onlinergallery.art
2022, London: “Why Art Has the Power to Change the World” by Izba Arts, a leading platform for Eastern European arts and culture
2021, London: Cristina’s works have been featured in the Boomer art magazine
2020, London: Cristina’s work has been featured in the sixth edition of the Art Hole Magazine, an independent artist-run publication dedicated to showcasing and promoting experimental and progressive contemporary art
2021, Washington D.C. Washington Diplomat wrote about Cristina Balan’s transition from diplomacy to art.
2020, Barcelona: Diafano modern art magazine published an interview with Cristina and ten of her works. Her painting has been featured on the cover of the magazine.
​
​
Art Studies
​
Sciusev School of Fine Arts, Moldova
Expressionist Abstract Art class with Tommas Hammar, Sweden
“Jump into Abstract Painting” with Tracy Verdugo, Australia
“Palette Knife Painting Techniques”, “Ink from A to Z”, “Free Motion Technique” with Oleg Iyrov, Ukraine
“Marten” artist coaching project with Oleg Iyrov, Ukraine
“Acrylic Painting” with Laure Anne, USA
“Abstract Painting” with Joy Fahey, UK
Art Business Academy, Kiev, Ukraine
​
​
Social Media
​
https://instagram.com/cristinabalandc
https://www.facebook.com/CristinaBalanMD/
ttps://www.linkedin.com/in/cristina-balan-33a6734/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq5owdaqtC6LzV4CLhUUWyw/featured
​
Art Platforms