Romania's capital city, Bucharest, displays an elegant past that, after 40 years of communism and corruption, is now reaching levels of decay that may defy renovation. Over the past ten years, I have tried to create a parallel between the image of Princess Brianna Caradja, whose aristocratic family was driven out of Romania by politics, and of the capital city that is crumbling both physically and socially. With my journalistic background, I attempt to mirror the forgotten, ignored grandeur of both the physical and social institutions of my homeland.
Romania's capital city, Bucharest, displays an elegant past that, after 40 years of communism and corruption, is now reaching levels of decay that may defy renovation. Over the past ten years, I have tried to create a parallel between the image of Princess Brianna Caradja, whose aristocratic family was driven out of Romania by politics, and of the capital city that is crumbling both physically and socially. With my journalistic background, I attempt to mirror the forgotten, ignored grandeur of both the physical and social institutions of my homeland.
Romania's capital city, Bucharest, displays an elegant past that, after 40 years of communism and corruption, is now reaching levels of decay that may defy renovation. Over the past ten years, I have tried to create a parallel between the image of Princess Brianna Caradja, whose aristocratic family was driven out of Romania by politics, and of the capital city that is crumbling both physically and socially. With my journalistic background, I attempt to mirror the forgotten, ignored grandeur of both the physical and social institutions of my homeland.
IMPRESSIONS
About myself
Growing up in communist Romania, I didn’t acquire my first camera until 1989. After the revolution, the rise of a free press opened thrilling new doors, and I quickly found my way into radio and television, progressing from voice-overs to reporting, editing, and eventually producing. I had the privilege of working on major television shows with high viewership, including globally recognized productions like I’ll Do Anything for You, Big Brother, and Big Class Reunion.
Following many rewarding years in Romanian television, I expanded internationally in 2006, taking on video and photography projects in The Emirates, New Zealand, California, and Russia. I eventually settled in Houston, Texas, where I dedicated myself to freelance photography and film full-time. In 2018, I participated in the FotoFest Portfolio Review, where I was honored to have one of my photographic series selected for the 2018 FotoFest in Buenos Aires. This event marked the start of a second career as a visual artist, and since then, I’ve become an active figure in Houston’s art scene, exhibiting my work both locally and internationally in Romania, Argentina, Switzerland, Hungary, Mexico, and the USA.
In 2016, I published my first photography book, Road Trip: Romania, capturing the contrast between urban Bucharest and Romania's timeless countryside. With a lifelong passion for storytelling, a global perspective, and a deep commitment to creative expression, I bring a unique dedication to crafting powerful visual narratives.
Chronology
2024
- Group exhibition: The Porch Art Program, Blackjack National Resort & Resort-Style Residential & Golf Course
- Inheritance & Fragments, Solo Exhibition, Texas Tower, Houston
- Paradox, Houston, Texas
- Salon ďété, Houston, Texas
- Railroad Art Fair, Navasota, Texas
2023
- Photolucida, Critical Mass Top 200
- Home, Group Exhibition, Houston, Texas
- Urbanesque, Houston, Texas
- Salon Show 2023, Houston Texas
- Alternative Photography, Los Angels, Los Angeles Makery
- Archway Gallery 15th Annual Juried Exhibition, Houston
- Technological Reverie: Unveiling Utopia, Houston
2022
- The Other Art Fair, Dallas
- Art Celebrates the Story
- VAA 38th Juried Open Show
- VAA 38th Member Show
- Salon d'Art, Houston Texas
- Without Limits, Houston, Texas
- Ten Ants exhibition, Houston Texas
- Houston Forever Exhibition, Houston, Texas
- That's Amore exhibition, Texas
- Ice Ice Baby exhibition, Houston, Texas
- Yule Do exhibition, Houston, Texas
- Without Limits exhibition, Houston, Texas
2021
- FAIN Feria Mexico City
- New York Center for Photographic Art
- Poughkeepsie, New York - The Trolley Barn Gallery - The Art Effect
- Festival de Fotografía Artística Frontera - Tucúman Argentina (Synapses Series)
- FAIN Guadalajara, Mexico (Inheritance Series)
- Group Exhibition: "The Sum of Us", Silver Street Studios - Houston, TX, USA
- Juried Group Exhibition: "The 13th Juried Exhibition", Archway Gallery - Houston, TX, USA
- Group Exhibition: "The Artists at Silver Street", Silver Street Studios - Houston, TX, USA
- Juried Online Group Exhibition: 2021 Architecture Exhibition, New York Center for Photographic Art ("As Is" from "Inheritance" Series"
2020
- Group Exhibition: "7th Annual Living Mark", Verum Ultimum Gallery, Portland (Avalanche from the series Inheritance)
- Group Exhibition: "Aging as Art", Irvine, California (Baylor)
- Group Exhibition: "Outside the Box", Healdsburg, California (Cognition from the series Synapses)
- Solo Exhibition: "We": Festival de Fotografía Artística Frontera, Tucuman, Argentina (Inheritance):
https://eaf.com.ar/galeria-alicia-d-amico/la-herencia
- Solo Exhibition: Alicia D'Amico Art Gallery, Escuela Argentina de Fotografía - Buenos Aires, Argentina (Inheritance)
- Group Exhibition: "2020 Laguna Beach Open": Las Laguna Gallery - Laguna Beach, CA, USA
- Juried Group Exhibition: "2020 Photo Competition": SAC & Stonehenge Gallery - Montgomery, AL, USA
- Group Exhibition:"Togethering: Picturing the Covid-19 Pandemic", Houston Center for Photography, Houston, TX, USA
- Group Exhibition: "New Reality": Silver Street Studios - Houston, TX, USA
- Group Exhibition: "Pandemic: An Artists Response": Winter Street Studios - Houston, TX, USA
- Group Exhibition: "Imagination": PH21 Gallery - Budapest, Hungary
- Juried Group Exhibition: "The Portrait": Praxis Photo Arts Center - Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Juried Group Exhibition: Las Laguna Gallery - Laguna Beach, CA, USA
- The Other Art Fair, Dallas, TX, USA
- Fotofest 2020, Portfolio Review
- Publication: "Featured article", Deepredpress.com
- Solo Exhibition: "Inheritance": Silver Street Studios, West Wing, Jan 31
- Corona Portrait: online exhibition: https://www.coronaportrait.com/mihai
2019
- Solo Exhibition: Alicia D'Amico Art Gallery, Escuela Argentina de Fotografía - Buenos Aires, Argentina (Decay)
- Group Exhibition: Boundless - Sabine Street Studios - Houston, TX USA
- Group Exhibition: Director's Pick: PhotoSCHWEIZ 19 - Zurich, Switzerland
- Juried Group Exhibition: Visual Art Alliance Houston, Texas: 36th Juried Exhibition
- Juried Group Exhibition: Archway Gallery: 11th Annual Juried Exhibition - Houston, TX USA
- Group Exhibition: Gathered - Silver St. Studios - Houston, TX USA
- Group Exhibition: Conversation on Culture - Sabine St. Studios - Houston TX
- Group Exhibition: Come Together - Winter Street Studios - Houston TX
- Solo Exhibition: Bean Punk Coffee Shop - Conroe TX
- Group Exhibition: Collective Consciousness - Silver Street Studios - Houston TX
2018
- Group Exhibition: "Habitat" - Sabine Street Studios - Houston, TX USA
- Solo Exhibition: Festival de Luz, Encuentros Abiertos - Buenos Aires, Argentina
- FotoFest, Marketplace portfolio review
- Published children's book "Crabby Cat Needs a Holiday"
2017
- Feria de los Libros, International Book Fair in Guadalajara
2016
- Published book "Road Trip Romania: A Photographic Journey"
- Frankfurt International Book Fair
- International Book Fair - Moscow
- Published children's book "Andy and the Leprechaun"
2015
- Bologna International Children's Book Fair
- Published children's book "ABCat"
2010-2016
- Street photography and portrait work in Russia
2008-2010
- Nature, landscape and photography coursework in California
2006-2008
- Nature photography and urban landscapes in New Zealand
2005
- Solo Exhibition: "Memories from Sri Lanka" Photography exhibition in Campulung, Romania