Nică Petre

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Born in Brăila in 1936, Nică Petre (real name Petre Bălănică) emerged as a prominent figure in the world of sculpture, drawing, and set design. Nică Petre studied at the Nicolae Grigorescu Institute of Fine Arts in Bucharest, from 1958 to 1964. After graduating, he worked as a set designer at the Brăila Puppet Theatre. In 1966, he received the Friedrich and Cecilia Cuțescu Stork Scholarship, which allowed him to travel and study abroad. This experience significantly influenced his artistic vision. Nică Petre began to exhibit his work in the late 1960s. His early sculptures were characterized by their bold, simplified forms and their use of traditional Romanian materials such as wood and stone. He was also a prolific draftsman, and his drawings are known for their delicate lines and their lyrical, poetic quality. In 1980, Nică Petre emigrated to Canada and settled in Toronto where he continued to contribute to the world of sculpture and drawing. His memoir, published in 2003, provided insights into his life and artistic journey. Nică Petre's work has been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world, including the Hakone Open-Air Museum in Japan, the Henry Moore Institute in England, and the National Museum of Art of Romania. He received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the Henri Moore Prize (1991) and the Order of Cultural Merit of Romania (2000).