International Conference Horizons of Modern Romanian Sculpture: from Karl Storck to Constantin Brancusi.

The “G. Oprescu” Institute of Art History is honored to announce the organization of the international conference “Horizons of Modern Romanian Sculpture: from Karl Storck to Constantin Brancusi”. This high-level academic event will take place on May 28–29, 2026, in the splendid Royal Dining Hall of the National Museum of Art of Romania, and will also be accessible online via live Zoom streaming. The conference will be held in English.

The year 2026 marks a triple symbolic celebration for both Romanian and universal cultural heritage: 150 years since the birth of Constantin Brancusi, the bicentenary of Karl Storck’s birth, and the centenary of Carol Storck’s death. The conference proposes a rigorous investigation of modern sculpture, tracing the dual genealogy of these seminal figures: from the institutionalization of the national school of sculpture under the aegis of the Storck family in the late nineteenth century and the neoclassical period, to the Brancusian plastic revolution, which radically reconfigured the universal visual language through direct carving (taille directe) and the essentialization of form.

The conference organizers — the Department of Visual Arts and Architecture. Modern Period, coordinated by Dr. Adrian-Silvan Ionescu, Director of the “G. Oprescu” Institute of Art History — have designed a broad framework for debate, offering participants the opportunity to discuss the latest theoretical approaches to the study of Romanian and international sculpture and to share research information and experiences. The conference themes include: the institutionalization of sculpture, modernity and archaism, the paradigm of Constantin Brancusi’s work, artistic transfers and influences, artistic genealogies, and women sculptors.

The event will bring together 27 papers presented by renowned specialists from around the world, creating a space for interdisciplinary dialogue. Over the two conference days, three distinguished figures of contemporary art historiography will deliver keynote lectures: Dr. Doina Lemny, “A Gift for ‘Brancusi Year’ – A Unique Collection of Original Photographs”; Dr. Jonathan Vernon, “Brancusi: Limits and Contradictions”; and Dr. Cristian-Robert Velescu, “Constantin Brancusi, trois Muses endormies. Identification et approche iconologique: La Muse Rumsey, La Muse Guggenheimer, La ‘Pseudo-Muse Guggenheimer’. La ‘part’ d’Erik Satie.”

May 28, 2026

9:45–10:00. Arrival of participants
10:00–10:20. Opening remarks
Dr. Erwin Kessler, Director of the National Museum of Art of Romania
Dr. Adrian-Silvan Ionescu, Director of the “G. Oprescu” Institute of Art History

Keynote Speech
10:20–10:50. Jonathan Vernon: Brancusi: Limits and Contradictions
10:50–11:00. Q&A

First Session chaired by Dr. Doina Lemny
11:05–11:20. Barbara Vujanović: Archaic Bodies, Modern Forms: Brâncuşi and Meštrović between Spiritual Abstraction and Monumental Expression
11:20–11:35. Virginia Barbu: Brancusi’s “Timidity”: An Elliptical Unique Work
11:35–11:50. Ruxandra Dreptu: Maternity, patinated plaster, 1936. An original work by Ion Vlasiu
11:50–12:05. Q&A
12:05–12:20. Break

Second Session chaired by Dr. Vlad Bedros
12:20–12:35. Eduard Enache: The Construction of a Self-Referential Myth: An Analysis of Brancusi’s Journey from Bucharest to Paris (1904)
12:35–12:50. Eduard Andrei: A Missed Opportunity: On the (Im)Possible Brancusi Exhibition in New York in 1939
12:50–13:05. Melania Andronic: The Romanian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale as a “National Device”: Sculpture, Identity, and Modernity from 1989 to 2019
13:05–13:20. Diana Roman: Diversity and Identity Configurations in Romanian Female Sculpture after 1989
13:20–13:35. Q&A
13:35–14:35. Lunch break

Keynote Speech
14:35–15:05. Doina Lemny: A Gift for “Brancusi Year” – A Unique Collection of Original Photographs
15:05–15:15. Q&A

Third Session chaired by Dr. Ruxandra Dreptu
15:20–15:35. Steve Yates: Constantin Brancusi: Interchanges in Modernity, Sculpture and Photography
15:35–15:50. Elena Ciocoiu: Echoes of Constantin Brancusi’s Imaginary in Isamu Noguchi’s Imaginary
15:50–16:05. Raluca Partenie: Visions of Form: An Interdisciplinary Inquiry into the Sculptural and the Sartorial
16:05–16:20. Q&A
16:20–16:35. Break

Fourth Session chaired by Dr. Judit Balint
16:35–16:50. Ana Maria Măciucă-Pufu: Portraying Constantin Brancusi: Milița Petrașcu, Sculpture, Memory, and Artistic Authority
16:50–17:05. Vlad Vieru: Heteronormativity and Balkan Feminism in Romanian Art. Case Study: The Art of the Couple Frederic Storck and Cecilia Cuțescu-Storck
17:05–17:20. Mihaela Ion: The Paradigms of Constantin Brancusi’s Work in Contemporary Art
17:20–17:35. Q&A

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May 29, 2026

Keynote Speech
10:00–10:30. Cristian-Robert Velescu: Constantin Brancusi, trois Muses endormies. Identification et approche iconologique : La Muse Rumsey, La Muse Guggenheimer, La « Pseudo-Muse Guggenheimer ». La « part » d’Erik Satie

Fifth Session chaired by Dr. Jonathan Vernon
10:35–10:50. Alexandra Parigoris: Looking through Brancusi’s bronze Newborn II
10:50–11:05. Julia Frieberger: Moving sculpture: Constantin Brancusi’s Prometheus at Kettle’s Yard
11:05–11:20. Chase J. Pendleton: Metamorphoses: Constantin Brancusi After Transgender Studies
11:20–11:35. Q&A
11:35–11:50. Break

Sixth Session chaired by Dr. Barbara Vujanović
11:50–12:05. Adrian-Silvan Ionescu: Karl and Carol Storck, Father and Son, Sculptors. The American Correspondence
12:05–12:20. Cătălina Macovei: Stylistic Developments in the Graphic Art of Hovaghim Torosian
12:20–12:35. Luigi Bambulea: Brancusi as a Presocratic: An Iconological Diagnosis and a Methodological Proposal
12:35–12:50. Dalina Bădescu: The Poetic Reception of “The Way of the Heroes” Monumental Ensemble in Margareta Sterian’s Poetry
12:50–13:05. Q&A
13:05–14:05. Lunch break

Seventh Session chaired by Dr. Virginia Barbu
14:05–14:20. Adriana Șotropa: A Generation Abroad: Academic Training in France and Germany and the Making of Modern Romanian Sculpture
14:20–14:35. Alexandra-Elisabeta Moț: Study and Creation among “Gladiators”: The Artistic Reception of Ancient Sculpture within the Sculpture Department of the School of Fine Arts in Bucharest
14:35–14:50. Macrina Oproiu: Romanian Sculptors in the Peleș National Museum Collection
14:50–15:05. Felicia Raețchi: “The Medrea School” in the Genealogy of Modern Romanian Sculpture
15:05–15:20. Q&A

Registration: There is no registration needed and participation is free. To attend the conference online please use the following link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82032881149?pwd=WbighA7WwjFzFc3P2qScu8FFvGaiRV.1
Passcode: Brancusi

For further information please contact: Ralcua Partenie (ralucamariamailgmail.com).

You can also find the conference poster online: https://www.eveniment.istoria-artei.ro/resources/2026/Horizons_of_Modern_Romanian_Sculpture/Programme%20Horizons%202026_May%2028-29.pdf.