Simona Gocan is a Romanian-American artist currently living in Arizona. She received her BFA with honors (1997) from the University of Arts and Design, Cluj, Romania, where she majored in Fine Art Photography. She continued her studies as a recipient of a scholarship for studies in set, costumes and lighting design, at Teatro alla Scala, Milan, Italy (1999-2001). She’s been a member of the Romanian Union of Artists (UAP) Romania, since 2007.
She has exhibited in numerous solo and group shows in Romania, Italy, Chile and the U.S.
After living in Europe, the Middle East and South America, Simona moved to the U.S in 2014.
Her work includes paintings, drawings, ceramics and textiles.
She finds inspiration in nature, which she reconstructs either by memory or by combining pictures she takes in her travels. She is also influenced by minimalist sculpture, land art, architecture and design and cinematography.
Education
1999-2001 Teatro alla Scala, Milan, Italy. Received scholarship for studies in Set, Costume and Lighting Design
1993-1997 University of Art and Design, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art Photography
Selected Exhibitions
2023 Sculpture & Painting Annual Salon, The Museum of Art, Cluj-Napoca, Romania (juried)
2023 'Big Ideas! Small Works' The Shemer Art Center, Phoenix AZ, USA (juried)
2023 'Symphonic Visions', Goodyear Public Library, AZ, USA (juried)
2022 ‘Becoming’, New City Studio, Phoenix, USA
2022 ‘Abstracts and Colors’, presented by TurningArt (Boston, USA) on Artsy.com
2021 ‘The Other Art Fair LA’ (Saatchi Art), Barker Hangar, Santa Monica, USA (juried)
2021 ‘Collage Obsession - International Collage Biennial’, first edition, University of West, Timisoara, Romania (juried)
2021 ‘International Biennial of Small Graphic Arts’, the 8th edition, Inter-Art Aiud, Romania (juried)
2021 ‘2021 Spring Collection’, Christenberry Collection, Columbia, SC, USA (juried)
2020 ‘Abstract’, The Capsule Collection, {9} The Gallery, Phoenix AZ, USA (juried)
2020 ‘Romanian Graphic Arts’, the 9th edition, Caminul Artei Gallery, Bucharest, Romania (juried)
2020 ‘International Biennial of Miniature Arts’, the 4th edition, University of West, Timișoara, Romania (juried)
2020 ‘Salon Forty Eight’, Artlink Gallery, Park Central, Phoenix, USA (juried)
2019 ‘7th International Pastel Biennial’, Galeria Sztuki Współczesnej BWA SOKÓŁ, Poland (juried)
2019 ’70 Years, Anniversary Show’, ‘Romulus Ladea’ Fine Art School’s Gallery, Cluj, Romania
2019 ‘Correlations’, The Tailor’s Tower Cultural Center, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
2019 ‘20st Fine Art Salon’, Braila Art Gallery, Braila, Romania, (juried)
2019 ‘Nature’, The Presidio Residents Club, Goodyear AZ, USA, (juried)
2018 ‘14th Fine Art Biennial Gh. Petrascu’, The Museum Complex ‘Curtea Domnească’, Targoviste, Romania, (juried)
2018 ‘Romanian Graphic Arts’, the 7th edition, Caminul Artei Gallery, Bucharest, Romania, (juried)
2018 ‘International Biennial of Miniature Arts, the 4th edition, University of West, Timișoara, Romania, (juried)
2018 ‘Artist’s Choice’, The Presidio Residents Club, Estrella Mountain Ranch, AZ, USA, (juried)
2018. Group Show/Sweden National Day, The National History Museum, Cluj, Romania
2017 ‘Flat Rate Box’, Modified Arts, Phoenix, AZ, USA, (juried)
2017 ‘Unity Through States of Being’, Modified Arts, Phoenix, AZ, USA, (juried)
2017 ‘Celebration of Artists’, West Valley Art Museum, Peoria, AZ, USA, (juried)
2017 ‘Rendez-Vous’, UAP Gallery, Turda (Cluj), Romania
2017 ‘Tiny Art Exhibit’, Herberger Gallery, Phoenix, AZ, USA, (juried)
2016 ‘Artist’s Choice’, The Presidio Residents Club, Estrella Mountain Ranch, AZ, USA, (juried)
2016 ‘Fall in Cluj’, The Tailor’s Tower Cultural Center, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
2016 ‘Infinite Possibility: Art of Tomorrow’, Tilt Gallery, Scottsdale AZ, USA, (juried)
2016 ‘Peisaj’, Horeb Gallery, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
2012 'Pares', Artium Gallery, Santiago, Chile
2012 'Salon pe balcon' (1st Edition Art Fair), The Museum of Art, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, (juried)
2011 'Drawing Connections', Siena Art Institute, Italy
2011 'mailto:', Drift Station Gallery, Lincoln (Nebraska), USA
2011 ‘Angels & Demons’, The Old Gallery, Cluj, Romania
2010 'ArtVinium', West City Hotel, Cluj, Romania
2010 'Fear 4', projekt30.com online juried group exhibition, (juried)
2010 ‘Telling Secrets’, projekt30.com online juried group exhibition, (juried)
2008 ‘Viewpoints’, Fortuna Gallery, Cluj-Napoca, Romania (Solo)
2007 ‘Artists from Cluj’, Senso Gallery, Bucharest, Romania
2006 ‘Viewpoints’, Romanian Institute of Culture and Humanistic Research, Venice, Italy (Solo)
2004-2019 Sculpture & Painting Annual Salon, U.A.P. Galleries and The Museum of Art, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, (juried)
2002 ‘Homage to Morpheus’, Vento d’Arte Gallery, Rho (Milan), Italy (Solo)
2002 ‘Avanzando...Regredendo’, Palazzo Pretorio, Volterra and Romanian Institute of Culture and Humanistic Research, Venice, Italy
1999 ‘Homage to Morpheus’, Romanian Academy in Rome, Italy (Solo)
1997 ‘The Dream’, Atash Gallery, Cluj-Napoca, Romania (Solo)
1997 ‘Encounters’, University of Art and Design, Cluj-Napoca, Romania (Solo)
Awards
2014 STRABAG, International Art Award, Wien, Austria. Nominee
2021 ‘Collage Obsession - International Collage Biennial’, first edition, University of West, Timisoara, Romania. Nominee
Press/Publications (selection)
2021 ‘The Color Catalogue’, Saatchi Art, color catalogue
2020. ‘Romanian Graphic Arts’, Bucharest (Romania), color catalogue, the 9th edition
2020 Sculpture & Painting Annual Salon, color catalogue
2019 ‘7th International Pastel Biennial’, Poland, color catalogue
2019 ’70 Years, Anniversary Show’, ‘Romulus Ladea’ Fine Art School, color catalogue
2019 ‘20st Fine Art Salon’, colored catalog
2018 ‘Romanian Graphic Arts’, Bucharest (Romania), color catalogue, the 7th edition
2018 Sculpture & Painting Annual Salon, color catalogue
2018 Voyage Phoenix http://voyagephoenix.com/interview/meet-simona-gocan/
2017 Sculpture & Painting Annual Salon, color catalogue
2016 Sculpture & Painting Annual Salon, color catalogue
2015 Sculpture & Painting Annual Salon, color catalogue
2014 Sculpture & Painting Annual Salon, color catalogue
2012 Sculpture & Painting Annual Salon, B&W catalogue
2012 Cuvant Ortodox (Margareta Catrinu)
2007 Ziarul Financiar (Corina Teaca), Romania
2005 Clujeanul (Letitia Campan), Romania
2003 Encyclopedia of Contemporary Romanian Artists, the 5th volume (Negoita Laptoiu), Romania
2002 Settegiorni, Milan, Italy
2002 ‘Avanzando...Regredendo’, color catalog
1999 Dilema (Ioana Both), Romania