Adrian Ghenie (b. 1977, Baia Mare, Romania) is a prominent contemporary painter known for his exploration of historical, political and personal narratives through a unique fusion of abstraction and figuration. His work delves into themes of trauma, memory and the collective unconscious, often depicting historical figures and events with blurred or distorted faces, created through a gestural use of palette knives, stencils and collage techniques.
Ghenie studied at the University of Art and Design in Cluj and co-founded Galeria Plan B in 2005, a key platform for contemporary Romanian artists. He divides his time between Berlin and Cluj, where his work reflects influences from Dada, Abstract Expressionism and Baroque chiaroscuro, blending art historical references with cinematic and media imagery. Notable installations such as The Dada Room (2010) and The Darwin Room (2013-14) illustrate his interest in merging painting with immersive environments.
Representing Romania at the 56th Venice Biennale (2015), Ghenie has held solo exhibitions at major institutions like the Hermitage Museum, Palazzo Cini and SFMOMA. His works are part of prominent collections including the Centre Pompidou, Tate Modern and Long Museum. Known for addressing the legacies of dictatorship, historical conflicts and human vulnerability, Ghenie continues to innovate with layered compositions that challenge the boundaries of contemporary painting.