Constanta Art Museum

The museum grew on the painting and sculpture collections of the Art Collection of Constanţa City Hall (the City Art Gallery) and on the Balcic Art Collection (1935-1937); in time, it was enriched by important works that the National Museum of Art in Bucharest relocated here, and by purchases and donation made by artists such as Marius Bunescu, Ion Jalea, Boris Caragea, and many other private collectors.

Two buildings make up the venue of the Constanța Art Museum: the oldest, a Neoclassic architectural edifice from 1895, initially the oldest school in Constanța, the other is a modern building erected between 1980-1982.

The artworks are displayed on three levels of the two linked buildings.

The artworks on permanent display are presented by author, chronologically, offering a coherent image of the evolution of Romanian art. The visitors start their tour with 19th century paintings by Romanian masters such as Theodor Aman, Nicolae Grigorescu and Ioan Andreescu, exhibited alongside sculptures signed by Ioan Georgescu, Ştefan Ionescu Valbudea, Frederic Storck, Dimitrie Paciurea.

Romanian art of the first half of the 20th century is illustrated by works signed by Nicolae Tonitza, Ştefan Dimitrescu, Theodor Pallady, Nicolae Darăscu, Gheorghe Petraşcu, Francisc Şirato, Iosif Iser, Lucian Grigorescu, Dumitru Ghiaţă, Camil Ressu, Dimitrie Paciurea, Oscar Han, Corneliu Medrea, artists who proved a strong and meaningful connection to Western European art, while authoring art of unquestionable originality and value; the fascination with the Avant-garde, a worldwide esthetic movement, speaks to the visitors through paintings and sculptures signed by Corneliu Mihăilescu, M.H. Maxy, Milița Petrașcu, among others.

The museum generously hosts temporary art exhibitions, and welcomes artists from Romania and abroad, to show their creation, engage in a dynamic dialogue with the visitors and contribute to the vibrant artistic life of Constanța.