Interview
Anca Jitariu Gliga
Anca Gliga was born in 1986 in Gura-Humorului, Bukovina region, Romania.
After an art debut at The Folk Art Museum in Gura-Humorului, she decided to study secular painting at Ciprian Porumbescu Art College, Suceava.
In 2010, Anca completed her studies with an MBA at Academy of Fine Arts Nicolae Grigorescu, Bucharest. Her portfolio displays various themes, with different oil and watercolor techniques of human portraits, landscape elements, and also of abstract compositions. Her style of painting is defined by the realistic details with stylized backdrops. Anca currently works at her Studio in Cluj as a full time artist, teacher and volunteer.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“Art has been a part of my family for the past three generations. My father, grandfather, and great-grandfather were all passionate about painting and craftsmanship. My father taught me to appreciate the beauty of the world and, more importantly, showed me how to express that through my art. He inspired me, and helped nurture a true love for Beaux-Arts.
In Romania in the '80s, making a living from art was impossible, so my father had to have a steady job like everyone else. Knowing that he gave up his dream serves as an incentive to keep me going whenever I face obstacles in my career. Through this determination and the love I have for the art world, I stubbornly believe that I can live through and off of what I can do with my art.”
“Human expressiveness is a main source of inspiration for my work. I always like to observe and study the features of a face with less common lines. It's a great feeling when I capture the human emotion in paint. I remember when I drew the first realistic portrait of my best friend in 5th grade. We were both so excited. I knew then that was the kind of feeling I want to have in my life.”
How would you describe your work?
“I played around with different concepts and techniques in an attempt to define my style. For a while, my desire and goal was to create a harmonious blend on canvas, wood or wall, and between realistic and abstract elements. Defining my unique signature was an insightful and soul-searching process. But it led me to know my artistic self better, and gave me the clarity to recognize that my art revolves around classic details, with spontaneous large shapes in portraiture, landscape, still life and abstract compositions.”
Which artists influence you most?
“When I was a kid, I’d always sit and watch my father painting gorgeous landscapes in oil on canvas. Soon after, I found my favorite artist: William Turner. Over the next few years of studies, there were so many still-life compositions and academic works to be done that I felt stuck and completely without inspiration. Meanwhile, I fell in love with Caravaggio's chiaroscuro art and Vermeer's materiality. Impressionism has always fascinated me, and Klimt's golden leaf technique has inspired my recent work.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“I love a realistic portrait. To capture the expression of a face has always been my first choice for a subject. But in time, I have moved from searching for a perfect technique to a more symbolic link between the portrait and how it can be influenced.
Nature is another beautiful source of inspiration, from a simple reproduction of a landscape to an overwhelming experience, because it reminds me of the places I was and what they meant to me. So when I imagine a corner of nature, I move on to another technique, from realism to a stylized interpretation. After a while of studies, a favorite art nouveau choice, a series of classic subjects and a search to find the perfect color contrast, I felt that, actually, all these together in one body of work is me; an image between abstract and realism. A balance between imagination and a true existence.”
What is your creative process like?
“Anxiety, fear, hope, doubt, peace, empathy, love and sorrow are all feelings that make me alive. For me, they are the perfect way to be creative, especially when I have to paint a specific work. For any subject I paint, the medium is like a search where the personal connection to the work becomes the most important stage. When I stand in front of a blank canvas, I get all sorts of shapes and ideas, so I just take a paintbrush and start shaping the projection of those thoughts. Only after I am convinced that the concept I have started is ideal do I continue to finish the last details. I get many ideas along the way, but the first lines play a crucial part in the outcome of the final work.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“What can be better than sharing your energy and message through art? The image created by the artist that is exhibited in a home, gallery or a meaningful event is an achievement. To me, it is an honor and means acceptance as a fine artist. And if you can use what you love to do to make a difference, that is even better.
For example, an open-minded artist can donate at least one of their works to a charity auction to raise funds for a noble cause. Another example: you can teach art lessons to underprivileged children. The artist could also organize art camps to show these children how they can discover their own passions and skills which they could use in their life. Art education has a very important role in society and can lead to an exceptional cultural development for both artists, art lovers and for the future of all of us.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“My work has been exhibited in over 20 painting exhibitions all over the country, and also in international art projects. It was amazing to be part of the Art for Broken Heart auction from Alfa Grup Foundation.
My 'Scream' oil painting was published in the Spotlight contemporary art magazine in France and distributed internationally. You can see it here.
My Self-Portrait oil painting was selected to be on the screens in the ARTBOX.GALLERY Zurich in 2020, and also in Barcelona in 2021. You can view it here.
I recently accepted a new challenge, as part of the Sentiment Collection of 100 artists from The Bickerton Grace Gallery in London, to create a piece that best describes me as an artist. You can read the full story here.
In 2016, I was invited to exhibit for ‘Alzheimer’s In the Frame’ at Elena Shchukina Gallery in London. After that, I attended a fundraising event with my Betty S. Robinson painting (1928 Olympic gold woman) at The Alzheimer’s Show, Olympia Center, UK.
In the following years, I have exhibited different original works to be auctioned as requested.”
