Born 1969 in Brăila, Aura Bălănescu lives and works in Timișoara, Romania.

Aura Bălănescu is a graduate of BA/MA Sculpture Department (2003), Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, West University of Timisoara. Since her PhD in Visual Arts (2009), she has become known for exploring the concept of media sculpture that could be a particular case or an anomaly around the traditional artwork, but more precisely, it contributes to the definition of the new paradigm of the integrative media work as a corollary of multi-perceptual approaches and mutations of artistic processualism, or as a meeting between art, science, technology, and everyday life. Her interests in the new media art were presented in conferences, such as Doors – Digital Incubator for Museums, Ars Electronica Linz (2022), Br41n.IO Hackathon, Ars Electronica Linz (2019), Zip-Scene Analogue and Digital Immersive Environments, Moholy-Nagy University of Arts and Design Budapest (2018), Light Edu Symposium, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism Timisoara (2018), Stereo & Immersive Media, Lusophone University of Humanities, Lisbon (2018), Media Art Histories, Science and Technology, RE: TRACE, Danube University, Krems (2017) and RE:NEW, RIXC Centre for New Media Art Riga (2013). Also, her works, from stereoscopic representation to interactive and immersive digital installation, were exhibited in festivals, such as Layers of Reality, Romanian Cultural Institute, New York (2023), Hiperestezia – Art Encounters Biennial Timisoara (2023), Oasis. Green Identity, STPT Timisoara (2021), Convertible Structures, Fusion AIR București (2021), The Use of Man – Art Danube, Novi Sad (2018), Elektro Arts, Cluj (2018), Baroque II Urban, Museum of Art Timisoara (2018). Aura Bălănescu co-founded the site-specific art platform Avantpost (2014) and Tehnoarte Association (2020) for mapping the technological art in Timisoara.

• PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

2023 – Present, Lecturer PhD, Photo-Video Department (courses Media Art and Experiment, Video Art and Installations), and Internationalization Programs Manager, Faculty of Arts and Design, West University of Timisoara

2021 – 2025, Chief Curator & Project Manager, National Museum of Art Timisoara

05/04/2017 – 15/05/2019, Museographer – Museum of Art Timisoara

15/09/2008 – 15/06/2011, Visual Arts Teacher – Fine Arts High School Timisoara

• STUDIES:

2005-2009 PhD in Visual Arts (The Media Sculpture Thesis), School of Doctoral Studies, West University of Timisoara

1998-2003 BA/MA Sculpture Department, Faculty of Arts and Design, West University of Timisoara

• OTHER QUALIFICATIONS:

Certified in Project Management, Best Advisor Timisoara

Certified in Education (Middle & High School) / Pedagogy Department, West University of Timisoara

Certified in Adult Long-Term Education, Extreme Training Timisoara

Certified in Web Design, Ioan Slavici University Timisoara

• PLATFORMS:

2021 Co-founder & project manager of Tehnoarte Association for manifesting the interference of art, science and technology, and mapping the technological art in Timisoara.
2014 Co-founder & project manager of Avantpost Platform for manifesting, and archiving site-specific art in Timisoara.

• MEDIA ART RESEARCH:

2025 International Symposium on Electronic Art (ISEA International) Dong-Dong: Creators’ Universe’, Seoul National University

2024 International Conference Consciousness Reframed – The Chimæric Mind, Shanghai Institute of Visual Art – Roy Ascott Planetary Collegium

2022 Digital Museum Booster MNART ACCESS – DOORS, National Museum of Art Timisoara, Ars Electronica Linz, Museum Booster Vienna & ECSITE Bruxelles

2019 BR41N.IO Hackathon, Ars Electronica Festival, PostCity Linz

2018 International Conference Zip-Scene – Analog and Digital Immersive Environments, Moholy Nagy / University of Arts and Design Budapest

2018 International Symposium LIGHT EDU, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning / Order of Architects Timisoara

2018 International Conference Stereo & Immersive Media: Photography and Sound Research Lusofona University Lisbon

2018 Workshop: Wisp Kollektiv / 3D Immersive Audio Lab, New Media Nova Festival București

2017 International Conference Media Art Histories: Re:Trace / Media Art, Science and Technology, Danube University Krems

2013 International Conference Media Art Histories: Re:New / Media Art, Science and Technology, RIXC / Centre for New Media Culture Riga

2011 Workshop REMAKE – Rethinking Media Arts in Collaborative Environments, AltArt Foundation, Brush Factory Cluj-Napoca

• ARTISTIC EXPERIENCE:

/ AVANTPOST EXHIBITIONS

2023 Hiperestezia, Bastion Colț and Posta Mare, Complementary event of Art Encounters Biennial 2023, Timisoara

2021 Oasis. Green Identity, Stațiunea Tinerilor Naturaliști, Collateral event of Art Encounters Biennial 2021, Timisoara

2019 From Revolution to Revolutions – ReMind Mapping 89 / MultipleXity / Timisoara 2021 – European Capital of Culture, Corneliu Mikloși Museum of Urban Transport, Timisoara

2019 In Vitro Veritas, Timisoara 2021 – European Capital of Culture & T-Act Association, Northern Railway Station Alternative Space Timisoara

2017 UNIVERSALLOWED / Battery Factory, Collateral event of Art Encounters Biennial 2017, Timisoara

2016 Hidden Agenda. In memoriam Sorin Oncu, Temporary Museum of Contemporary Art, Timisoara

2016 Hidden Agenda. In memoriam Sorin Oncu, Scena 9 Residence / NAG București

2016 Epicentre, Art Museum Arad

2016 Unseen. Celebrating DADA, Helios Gallery Timisoara

2015 Becoming Connected, Memorial of Revolution, Event of Art Encounters Biennial 2015, Timisoara

2015 Beyond the Silence, Banat Museum of History Timisoara

2014 The Vanishing Point, Timco Halls, Timisoara

/ OTHER EXHIBITIONS

2025 Chasing Light, an exhibition powered by Faculty of Fine Arts and Design / West University of Timisoara, Romanian Cultural Institute London

2023 Layers of Reality, an exhibition powered by Faculty of Fine Arts and Design / West University of Timisoara, Brancusi Gallery, Romanian Cultural Institute New York

2021 FUSION AIR – Convertible Structures, Qolony Association, SAC Gallery București

2020 Zoom In, online exhibition, Diplomatic Art Association Timisoara

2020 Pandemic Art, online exhibition, Tehnoarte Association Timisoara

2018 Elektro Arts Festival: Electroacoustic music, digital photography and new media installation, Matei House / University of Arts and Design Cluj-Napoca

2018 Baroque II Urban / Woman, All Too Woman, partnership of Meta Spațiu Foundation and Museum of Art Timisoara

2017 Art in Process – Process in Art, ausstellungsraum.at, Viena
2016 Triology, Alfa Gallery Arad

2015 Meeting Point, Contemporary Art Biennial Arad

2013 Leap, Geam Mat Gallery, Museum of Art Timisoara

2012 Sign Out Video Art Festival, Fine Arts Faculty Oradea & Visual Container Milan

2011 Possible – Uncertain. Photography, Video and Installation in Timisoara, Timco Halls Timisoara

2010 Police the Police, Young Artists Biennial / Portfolio Presentation, META Foundation, Știrbei Palace București

2008 Living inside a Cube, Delta Gallery Arad

2008 Sculpture Today. 4 Sculptural Discourses, Delta Gallery Arad

2006 UTOPIA / Contemporary Art Festival, Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, West University Timisoara

2004 Transfigurations. Full Stop and Start Again. Prospecting the Young Art in Romania, Museum of Art Timisoara

2003 Night Shot Series, 2/2 Gallery, Timisoara

2001 MATERIAL / National Contest of Installation, H’Arta Alternative Space, Timisoara

/ ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 – Fundația Herczeg, Gărâna, Caras County

2007  AIR / WARMING! Hard Hot Area, Romanian Cultural Institute London

2007 AIR / Brâncuși -Tribute and Heritage, National Center for Monuments & Centre Pompidou Paris

• CURATORIAL EXPERIENCE:

2025 Techno-Ecologies for a Fragile Earth, Ars Electronica Campus Linz, a project powered by Faculty of Arts and Design, West University of Timisoara

2023 I, HUMAN by Saint Machine / Baroque Reloaded, BIDBOOK of Timisoara 2023 – European Capital of Culture, National Museum of Art Timisoara in partnership with Ars Electronica Linz and Institute of Laser Măgurele

2021 Pandemic Art, telematic installation, project powered by Tehnoarte Association

2019 Transborder Exhibition / Consulart #2 Serbia, organized by Diplomatic Art Association and Timișoara 2021 Association – European Capital of Culture, funded by Ministry of Culture in partnership with the General Consulate of Serbia at Timișoara

• AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS:

2025 Mobility bursary for cultural professionals by Projects Centre City Hall of Timisoara

2024 Creative Scholarship Energie! by Project Centre City Hall of Timisoara

2010 PRO JUVENTUTE Diploma offered by Timis County Council for improving education,

2007 Soroptimist International Award ‘Brancusi – Homage and Heritage’ International Sculpture Competition Paris

2002, 2000, 1999 STUDENT OF MERIT, Fine Arts Faculty West University of Timisoara

2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998 Scholarship for excellence, Fine Arts Faculty West University of Timisoara

• INTERVIEWS:

2021 Interview with Aura Bălănescu / Robert Șerban, Banatul azi, https://www.banatulazi.ro/sunt-fascinata-de-acest-traseu-care-incalca-in-mod-sistematic-deviza-clasica-muzeala-please-do-not-touch-interviu-cu-artista-vizuala-aura-balanescu/

2020 Interview with Aura Bălănescu / Camp Art mentorship / Art Encounters Foundation, https://artencounters.ro/en/interview-with-artist-aura-balanescu/

2020 Interview with Aura Bălănescu / Sfera / Rareș Moldovan, https://depezona.wordpress.com/2020/06/15/sfera-aura-balanescu/

• REFERENCIES:

2025 Chasing Light, Catalogue of Faculty of Arts and Design West University of Timisoara, Ed. Kerber, Berlin

2024 300 artiști din România 1990-2020, Catalogue powered by Propagarta, Editura Vellant, București

2023-22-21-20 Gărâna Symposium, Exhibition catalogue, Editura Universității de Vest Timisoara

2020 Proiecte din România în vremea pandemiei, Revista Arta nr. 44-45 / 2020. Text by Aura Bălănescu

2018 2019 Danube Dialogues Novi Sad, festival catalogue. Text by Maria Orosan Telea & Sava Stepanov

2018 Artă și tehnologie, Revista Orizont, Timișoara. Text by Maria Orosan Telea,

2011 Possible – Uncertain, photography, video, installation in Timisoara – exhibition catalogue. Text by Ileana Pintilie

2011 4 Discourses about Imponderability. Revista Arta / Visual Art Review, issue No.1. Text by Emil Moldovan,

2008 Living Inside the Cube – exhibition catalogue, Delta Art Gallery, Arad. Text by Ileana Pintilie,

2008 Sculpture Today. 4 Discourses – exhibition catalogue, Delta Art Gallery, Arad. Text by Emil Moldovan,

2004 Transfigurations. Full Stop and Start Again. Prospections about Young Art in Romania – exhibition catalogue. Text by Ileana Pintilie

2001 MATERIAL – Balkon / Art Magazine, issue No. 9, Idea Publishing Cluj. Text by Bogdan Achimescu

• PROJECT MANAGEMENT / National Museum of Art Timisoara

2024 Utopia and Research. Timisoara Experimental Groups 111 and Sigma

2024 Caravaggio’s Lights. The Beginning of Modernity in European Painting, Masterpieces from the Roberto Longhi Collection in partnership with Roberto Longhi Foundation and Civita Mostre e Musei Florence

2023 Constantin Brancusi – Romanian Resources and Universal Perspectives – Bidbook Timisoara 2023 – European Capital of Culture in partnership with Centre Georges Pompidou Paris, Tate Modern Londra, Guggenheim Venice

2023 Victor Brauner. Inventions and Magic – Bidbook Timisoara 2023 – European Capital of Culture in partnership with Centre Georges Pompidou Paris

2022 Paul Neagu. A Retrospective – Bidbook Timisoara 2023 – European Capital of Culture in partnership with Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein, BRUSEUM / Neue Galerie Graz andThe Paul Neagu Estate (UK)

• EDITORIAL EXPERIENCE:

2025-2026 Upcoming Doctoral Book Media Work of Art (Chapters Extensis, Transis, Morfosis, Integralis, Genesis), editorial project powered by Tehnoarte Association, published by West University of Timisoara Press

2024 Author Catalogue Miki Velciov. Land Art and Landscape Interventions, editorial project powered by Tehnoarte Association and West University of Timisoara Press, and financed by AFCN (National Cultural Funds Administration)

2023 Exhibition catalogue I, Human by Saint Machine, editorial project powered by National Museum of Art Timisoara

2023 Retrospective catalogue Baroque Reloaded by MNART, editorial project powered by National Museum of Art Timisoara