
On the occasion of Constantin Brancusi National Day, which is marked every year on February 19, the Romanian Cultural Institute (ICR) in New York celebrates 149 years since the birth of one of the most influential sculptors of all time through a series of events taking place under the title ‘Brancusi Month in New York’, from February 7 to 21 at the ICR representative office in Midtown Manhattan. This special program brings to the attention of the New York audience Brancusi’s cultural legacy in visual arts, music, and theater, offering a complex perspective on how the groundbreaking sculptor’s body of work influences contemporary artists.
‘The Music of Brancusi’ is the opening event of the ‘Brancusi Month in New York’, and will consist of a recital by pianist Alexa Stier, on Friday, February 7, at the Norman Manea Hall of the Romanian Cultural Institute in New York. The program will include works by composers who were contemporary or close to the sculptor, such as George Enescu, Erik Satie, Marcel Mihalovici, George Gershwin, as well as creations by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and contemporary composer Diana Rotaru.
‘Brancusi Reimagined: A Legacy Alive’ is an international group exhibition bringing together contemporary Romanian and American artists who were profoundly shaped by Brancusi’s legacy. From sculpture to painting, this curated selection showcases how his minimalist, nature-inspired approach continues to ripple across artistic generations. The exhibition curated by Michael Wolf and Luisa Tuntuc presents works by artists such as J.T. Gibson, Ellen Chuse, Cristian Ianculescu, Anna Pietrzak, Debra Priestly, Patriciu Mateescu, Lilia Ziamou, Michael Wolf, Constantin Antonovici (1911-2002), Colin Chase (1954-2022). It will be open for visit from February 14 to February 28.
‘Brancusi v. United States: A Legal Case That Redefined Art’, a reading show adapted from the namesake play by Tatiana Niculescu and translated into English by Amanda L. Andrei and Codin Andrei, is the third event of the ‘Brancusi Month in New York’ series, which will take place on Friday, February 21. ‘Brancusi v. United States’ is a surrealist comic drama based on the 1928 trial of the Romanian sculptor, who sued the United States for failing to classify his famous sculpture „Bird in Space” as art, a trial through which Brancusi managed to forever change the paradigm/definition of art in the United States and beyond.
Through this initiative, ICR New York aims to celebrate not only the creation of an exceptional artist, but also his impact on universal culture, while strengthening the links between the Romanian and American art scenes.