A long-term project dedicated to supporting young female artists in Romania.

P.E.V.A. aims to encourage the development of emerging female voices by providing them with opportunities and resources to enhance their creative potential and contribute to the growth of the contemporary art scene, while also honouring and preserving the legacy of Ecaterina Vrana, a significant figure in post-communist Romanian art.

Ecaterina Vrana (1969–2019) significantly contributed to contemporary national art. She graduated from the Academy of Arts in Bucharest under the guidance of Professor Sorin Ilfoveanu. Ecaterina Vrana's career began with an exhibition at the University of Freiburg in 1993, including numerous solo and group exhibitions in Europe and North America. Her work continues to inspire and influence new generations of artists.

Each year, the project’s board selects three outstanding female visual artists from the participants of the DIPLOMA festival. Two winners come from the painting section, and one is chosen from the graphic arts section. All winners receive financial support and a one-year studio space. Additionally, the first-place winner will be offered a solo exhibition at Mobius Gallery, guided by its curatorial team.

Initiated by the Kontakt Association and Mobius Gallery, the project is empowered by UniCredit Bank and Voxility, organised together with the DIPLOMA festival, the Museum of Recent Art, and Scânteia Studios.

About P.E.V.A. from the 2024 jury

  • “A commendable initiative, the Ecaterina Vrana Awards contribute significantly to the development of that part of the local art community where supporting younger generations takes centre stage. Focused particularly on female artists, participating in the first edition of this project was a real pleasure, and I hope that, in the future, these awards will become established as a benchmark for good practices and, at the same time, an encouragement for the generations who are – with dedication and courage – just starting out.”

    Sandra Demetrescu, The Director of Exhibitions and Programmes at MNAC and member of the 2024 P.E.V.A. jury

  • “I have always had an issue with awards and hierarchies, whether I was on the side of the examined or the examiner. The vertical perspective in any field gave me a sort of inner chill, the thought of some being unlucky, while others were fortunate. On the other hand, my entry into the art world as an adult came with great excitement, mixed with the occasional inability to clearly discern talent and value. I believe that young graduates need such benchmarks, a placement within a context where they can understand both their strength and vulnerability. I am increasingly beginning to believe that awards are necessary, to clearly mark certain names in public discourse, to mobilize, and to provide support at the beginning of a journey. This is even more important for female artists. And even more so, the need for a workspace, the dream of any graduate. The name of the late artist Ecaterina Vrana brings with it precisely what best defines the meeting between an emerging artist and an established one: the tireless work ethic, the enthusiasm, the search, but also the fragility of the former and the tenacity and confidence (often accompanied by restlessness) of the latter. As a member of the jury, it is a great joy to take the pulse of young art, to better understand where we stand, and to know that there is an institution that, through an award, is close to them.”

    Daria Ghiu, Cultural journalist and member of the 2024 P.E.V.A. jury

  • “The Ecaterina Vrana Awards for Young Female Artists in Romania hold significant meaning for several reasons: on one hand, they acknowledge the need for support that emerging female artists require at the beginning of their careers; on the other hand, they keep alive the memory of a remarkable artist, a model of independence, nonconformism, and honesty to the very end, no matter the risks or costs. In short, authenticity, as a supreme value, is further encouraged by this award, which I hope, over time, will reflect the complexity of the local female art scene.”

    Diana Marincu, Curator and member of the 2024 P.E.V.A. jury