Oana is a London-based international figurative and abstract artist and mum of two.
After leaving her native Southern Romania for London she turned to painting in her late 30's as a way to convey her torrent of emotions. What began as therapy for past struggles has metamorphosed into the gorgeous rendering of human stories and personal feelings on canvas by an adept creator.
She spares no expense in mixing the media to tell my tales, modern and traditional painting techniques and style combining with gold foil inlay, intricate pattern work, magazine cut out paper and beautiful textures.
Oana is significantly concerned with the beauty of the human being. She tries to portray the struggle, the past, but also love, hope and harmony. She aims to bring or portray the beauty we seldom see. Reminding the viewer to feel. Reminding the viewer of the spirit within.
She believes creativity is part of what drives us as humans so she always tries to discover new and original ideas. Therefore she combines oils, acrylics, imitation gold leaf, paint markers and paper all applied in an equally diverse manner using brushes, fingers, paint rollers and paper to create expressive and striking imagery. She plays with colours, mediums, tools and emotions to tell stories that touch people’s lives.
Her unique style can be recognised from the combination of natural flowing lines with harsh diagonals, clean crisp areas of colour with layered messy paint and cut out paper. The finished works are a mix of modern and almost futuristic look, whilst still managing to retain a raw traditional aesthetic. She is influenced and inspired by diverse sources including; Fashion, Pop Art, Street Art , Cubism, Art Nouveau, Modernism and Constructivism, all pulled together to create stylised works.
Exhibitions and publications
Nov 2022 - Bickerton Grace Gallery, group exhibition
April 2022 - Roy’s Art Fair, Truman Brewery, London
Nov 2021- Roy’s Art Fair, Oxo Tower, London
Nov 2021- NAKD Skull and Oana D. Gavrila Exhibition at Bickerton Grace Gallery, London
June 2021 - “Sentiment” Group Exhibition , Bickerton Grace Gallery, London
Aug 2021- Online “Color” Exhibition , Tebbs Contemporary Gallery
Dec 2020 - Online “Locked Up” Exhibition , Emerging Artist Platform
Nov.2020 - Online Exhibition with CPEXHIBIT12
Dec 2019 - Crystal Palace Affordable Art Fair, London
Ma’Nanas Magazine, an online magazine showcasing artists, their art and the Nanasi editorial photo shoots, – July issue 2020 (page 86)
“Le petit écho de L’art et la Mode”, in Paris on September 16th, 2020, during Fashion Week (special edition of the “Oooh” and “Signature” Magazines by editor chief Luigi di Donna). Sept 2020
Featured on trendyartideas.com 2019