Loving Brâncuși – A landmark exhibition at the residence of the British Ambassador to Romania
On Wednesday, 6 May 2026, the residence of the British Ambassador in Bucharest became a space devoted to the pursuit of essence by honouring, in an elegant and refined format of an art exhibition, the enduring legacy of Constantin Brâncuși.
The opening of the Loving Brâncuși exhibition brought together personalities, artists, members of the business community and lovers of artistic beauty in celebrating Brancusi Year, a century and a half since birth of the artist. This was no ordinary retrospective, but rather a tender and considered reflection upon Constantin Brâncuși as seen through the eyes of those who knew him, admired him and followed in his path.
Constantin Brâncuși, photographed by Man Ray
The exhibition comprises a series of artworks created by artists who lived and worked in close proximity to Brâncuși at various stages of his life, and who were inevitably moved by the breadth of his human and creative spirit. Works on display are signed by Milița Petrașcu, Ion Irimescu, Natalia Dumitrescu or Alexandru Istrati, all of whom shared significant connections with the artist from Gorj. Milița Petrașcu was both his muse and his pupil, whilst the couple Natalia Dumitrescu and Alexandru Istrati were devoted friends who, following his death, became the legal executors of his testament. Both are first hand artists in their own right, whose deeply felt abstract work bears the subtle yet unmistakable imprint of Constantin Brâncuși’s vision.
Constantin Brâncuși, relief sculpture by Milița Petrașcu
Painting by Natalia Dumitrescu
Objects that tell stories
Beyond canvas and sculpture, the Loving Brâncuși event brought before the guests an intimate dimension of the artist’s life, one rarely made visible. The exhibition presents, for the first time together, objects that belonged to the sculptor himself, each evoking its own poignant narrative and fragment of an accomplished life. Among them, one might mention the safire ring offered by Brâncuși to Maria Tănase, as well as a collection of three original letters, signed in the sculptor’s own hand, drawn from his correspondence with Florence Meyer, an American artist whom he met in Paris and with whom he maintained an epistolary exchange spanning several decades.
Ring given to Maria Tănase by Constantin Brâncuși
Handwritten letter from Constantin Brâncuși to Florence Meyer
The National Heritage Institute contributed to the exhibition with an installation-replica of the costume designed by Constantin Brâncuși for the dancer Lizica Codreanu, during the effervescent years of the Parisian avant-garde scene, an exceptional visual document of the way in which the sculptor thought movement, body and form beyond stone, bronze or marble, materials with which we are used to.
The exhibition was further enriched by replicas of celebrated works by Constantin Brâncuși, whose originals are held in the great museums of the world. Guests were delighted to listen the the music Brancusi himself was listening in his atelier, while sculpting, a musical compilation produced by Centre Pompidou in 2008, the vinyl and CD called „Brancusi&Musique”.
“In Art There Are No Foreigners”
His Excellency Giles Portman, British Ambassador to Bucharest, noted in his address to the guests that Brâncuși stands amongst the founding figures of modern sculpture, his revolutionary work having opened the way towards a new definition of modern art. Quoting the sculptor’s own words, “in art there are no foreigners”, Ambassador Portman described the exhibition as both a joy and an honour, and a singular means of marking the Brâncuși Year whilst celebrating the depth of the Romanian artistic landscape.
Ambassador Giles Portman and Mrs. Lucie Portman
Mrs. Lucie Portman, the British Ambassador’s wife and partner in cultural diplomacy projects, offered a complementary perspective: “Brâncuși was a creator of beauty not only through his works, but through the profound human influence he had upon those close to him. We take great pleasure in this exhibition, which tells us so much about Constantin Brâncuși the man.”
The works featured in the exhibition, together with the unique items of memorabilia connected to the great artist, were offered by Foundation for Nature, Art and Society/The Group „We are greatful to Ambasador Portman and Mrs. Lucie Portman for hosting this exhibition and for their constant support in celebrating Romanian contribution to universal art” said Mihaela Nicola, CEO The Group.
