10 Questions with Ioana Alexandra Mihalcea
Ioana Alexandra Mihalcea, born in 1999 in Romania, is a contemporary painter based in Zürich, Switzerland. Recognized for her vibrant and dynamic works, Alexandra primarily utilizes acrylics, oil pastels, and watercolor crayons on paper. Her art is characterized by colorful and dynamic compositions featuring intense backgrounds and abstract figures that float undisturbed in a spaceless environment, exploring the artist's inner world.
Alexandra's oeuvre delves into personal matters, examining the balance between internal emotions and external influences. This dynamic interplay is often presented in a chaotic yet harmonious manner.
Notable among her recent projects is "The Ghosts" (2024), in which Alexandra investigates boundaries, fears, hopes, and beliefs, drawing inspiration from the works of Francis Bacon, Jean Dubuffet, and ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs.
Her pieces are held in private collections throughout Italy.
Ioana Alexandra Mihalcea - Portrait
ARTIST STATEMENT
The artist's work reflects personal emotions, experiences, and desires. It is egocentric, deeply personal, and rooted in the core of their being. The intention is not to change the world but to communicate with it, to release the burdens carried for years—as if the soul is older than the artist and has endured more than can be imagined.
Through art, the soul speaks, though its full meaning remains elusive. The artist continues to listen, for the soul is the only certainty in a world full of uncertainties.
This art is meant to connect with others on levels beyond full comprehension, creating bridges and deeper connections. It is intended to be understood without explanation or words, as no words could fully capture its essence. It is about feelings and the inner world within each individual.
“The ghosts” series: untitled (1), mixed media on paper, 212 x 146 cm, 2024 © Ioana Alexandra Mihalcea
INTERVIEW
First of all, introduce yourself to our readers. When did you first discover your passion for art, and what inspired you to pursue it as your career?
Hello, my name is Alexandra, and I’m 26 years old. My art journey is quite lawless. I realized I wanted to create art at the age of 15, and the first approach I had was through fashion. I completed my high school diploma in fashion design, but I knew that it wasn’t enough for me. I always wanted to try more, but I was scared of not being good enough or having nothing to say through my art. One night, I decided to give it a try, and from that moment, I never stopped. I can still remember it to this day: I was listening to a podcast about Carl Gustav Jung. His theories will be forever present in my art and my journey. The more I created, the more I realized that I wanted to inspire people and connect with others on a deeper level. It gave me a purpose.
You are originally from Romania but now work in Zürich. Has this shift in environment influenced your creative process or the themes you explore?
I lived in Milan for a few years, and it was a very chaotic and extroverted city. It influenced my art enormously. My first paintings were exactly like the city: chaotic, crowded, messy. I was focused on releasing memories, experiences, and thoughts, as well as figuring out what direction I wanted to take. During the summer of 2023, my art had already started to develop. It was then that I decided to leave the country to go to Greece as a volunteer, and that brought me the peace of mind that was essential for my journey. Personal problems led me to Zürich, a calmer and introverted city. This environment gave me time and space to think properly about how I wanted my art to look. It’s here that my art has finally found its personality. Zürich was also where I experienced for the first time, the longest periods of loneliness. Far away from my friends, family, and everything I knew, in a country where I did not speak the language and had no connections, art was the only thing that mattered and kept me company. It was more personal, with a deeper meaning. All I had to do was remove the external and internal chaos.
“The ghosts” series: untitled (2), mixed media on paper, 212 x 146 cm, 2024 © Ioana Alexandra Mihalcea
“The ghosts” series: untitled (3), mixed media on paper, 222 x 146 cm, 2024 © Ioana Alexandra Mihalcea
Your work is deeply personal and rooted in emotions. How do you navigate the balance between introspection and sharing your inner world with an audience?
Fear of being seen will always torment me. This is the reason why I have never exposed myself. What I draw is what I feel, even when I don’t know what that feeling is about. I was often scared that people would understand my emotions better than me. Multiple feedbacks made me realize that everyone sees something slightly different based on their own experiences and inner world. That comforted me: I was being seen, but not completely. Some parts will never be understood. And that is the most important thing for me, in this age, where everything has a logical answer and a specific purpose. I want to share my private thoughts and still be able to have a veil of mystery that won’t be understood.
Your compositions often feature abstract figures floating in a spaceless environment. How did you come up with this concept? And how does it help you convey your message?
I listened to the paper and let my instinct take over. This is how I create my pieces. I do not think too much or have an elaborate plan; I wait and carefully listen. I let my feelings guide the hand, and I allow the shape to reveal itself. Crazy as it might sound, it works. Emotions have no plan, emotions have no right or wrong shape. Before I started ‘The Ghosts’, I only had a vague idea of what I wanted it to look like. I had a mood board and music. The rest came naturally. This is the right way for me to express my feelings purely and authentically.
You’ve mentioned that your art is not meant to change the world but to communicate with it. What kind of conversations do you hope your work sparks in those who view it?
‘What do you see, how do you feel, how is this helping you, what’s the story of the subject and who is it?’ These are some questions I want the viewer to consciously or unconsciously answer. I want people to connect with their inner selves and be present in the moment. It’s important to take a minute and reflect, especially nowadays, when we are bombarded by all kinds of information and AI. My art is very minimal, but it is on a deeper level. I want to communicate with everyone who is willing to listen.
“The ghosts” series: untitled (4), mixed media on paper, 222 x 146 cm, 2024 © Ioana Alexandra Mihalcea
In your recent project, The Ghosts, you explore boundaries, fears, and beliefs, drawing inspiration from figures like Francis Bacon and Jean Dubuffet. What aspects of their work resonate with you the most?
Jean Dubuffet’s philosophy will forever be a solid influence on my art. The first time I read about ‘Art Brut’ I knew that was my main purpose. It’s a concept I always had but never managed to express correctly. I felt understood. I have never intended to make “pretty” art, all I wanted was to make art from my soul. Real art. From Francis Bacon, I took the sense of despair, isolation, angst, and self-exploration. His dream-like paintings, connection with the brutality of the human being, and the therapeutic potential of art had a huge impact on my art. I have found myself between these two masters, and I felt understood. I felt in a safe space.
For your work, you use acrylics, oil pastels, and watercolor crayons, which largely contribute to the vibrancy and dynamism of your pieces. How do you choose which medium or technique to work with for a particular composition?
I usually start with a watercolor crayon base. It represents the soul and what my deepest feelings look like. They change and get less or more intense with the addition of water, which symbolizes the flow of thoughts I go through to try to understand the emotions. Every layer added is a different aspect of my life and experiences I’m going through. Acrylics are mainly used for the background. The external world that I can’t completely comprehend or change. It’s the chaos of the world around me. The oil pastels represent parts of me that have been with me since birth, beliefs, and behaviors I have since I can recall: some things that will stick with me forever.
“The ghosts” series: untitled (5), mixed media on paper, 2024 © Ioana Alexandra Mihalcea
“The ghosts” series: untitled (6), mixed media on paper, 212 x 146 cm, 2024 © Ioana Alexandra Mihalcea
Your pieces are held in private collections throughout Italy. How does knowing that your work lives in different spaces and contexts affect your perspective on your practice?
I think of my art as therapeutic. It helps me in the moment, but then I let go of it. I am not as attached as maybe I should be, because my art has a purpose: to help. My only hope is that those pieces can help the new owner and every single person viewing it, sooner or later.
What are you currently working on, and is there a particular direction you’re excited to explore in the future?
At the moment, I am taking a few months of meditational break. I usually alternate between very intense creative months and meditative periods I need to give myself space and time to process. I am excited to see what will come out in a few months. How my artistic journey will look, is a mystery that I’m excited to solve.
And lastly, as we are at the beginning of the year, what is your biggest goal for 2025?
My biggest goal is to put myself out there, connect with more people, be able to inspire others, and work on even bigger drawings.
Artist’s Talk
Al-Tiba9 Interviews is a promotional platform for artists to articulate their vision and engage them with our diverse readership through a published art dialogue. The artists are interviewed by Mohamed Benhadj, the founder & curator of Al-Tiba9, to highlight their artistic careers and introduce them to the international contemporary art scene across our vast network of museums, galleries, art professionals, art dealers, collectors, and art lovers across the globe.
