Tudor Mitroi

The ideal place for my artwork would allow the viewer to share their personal space with the artwork. In that respect it is the opposite of large, crowded museums with countless visitors streaming by and pointing their cameras at the artwork, with large labels with long explanations, and omnipresent guards. It could be like some spaces in a museum like the Menil Collection, with small rooms, or the many museums like the ones I grew up with in Romania, most often housed in buildings that were not designed as museums. It could be a private residence. Ideally it would have soft natural light. A white wall, even a brick or stone wall. It could even be a sheltered outdoor place, like a portico or terrace. It would be a place where the viewer could spend time with no pressure, and could share the presence of the artwork with a few friends. It would be a place where the artwork could live, not just exist.

The Menil Collection, Houston, Texas

Courtyard in Venice, Italy.

The Menil Collection, Houston, Texas.

Muzeul de Arta Ramnicul Valcea, Romania.

The Menil Collection, Houston, Texas.

Tudor Mitroi was born and raised in Bucharest, Romania. He received his Diploma de Licenta (M.A.) from the Universitatea de Arte in Bucharest, and his M.F.A. from the University of North Texas. His experience integrates the cultural traditions of his native country and European and American art training. In his work Mitroi uses maps, rulers, documentary images, and various items from the immediate environment to create personal geographies exploring the fluid meanings of time and place. Mitroi currently teaches at Sam Houston State University. He lives and works in Houston.