Oana Stanel

Oana Stănel is a Romanian visual artist with a background in fine art and illustration. Her work centers on translating stories, human experiences and emotional landscapes into visual form.

Stănel grew up in the capital of Romania, however she would spend many summers in the countryside. There she developed a fascination for nature that was fueled by the disconnect she felt from it in Bucharest. She realized early in her life just how impactful and important those green environments were, wishing now to honor them through her work. Moreover, natural motifs occupy a crucial role in Stanel's paintings. Flora and fauna act together as conduit for deep inexplicable feelings as they can create a unique atmosphere that no urban scenery can achieve.

During her time in Bucharest, Stănel graduated as a top student from Marina Capațina Art Academy in Romania, having received high level classical training in painting, under the close guidance of its founder. In the Netherlands, she graduated with honors in Visual Culture and Illustration from Willem de Kooning Academy. After years of study and experimentation, Stanel now combines both Romanian and Dutch influences in her paintings using her knowledge of fine art and illustration to express her artistic vision.

Keen on creating paintings that carry feelings, memory and meaning, Stănel's goal is to entrance her audience and transport them into a state where emotions, no matter how difficult, are easier to feel. As many people repress their emotional state to cope with an increasingly unpredictable world, she wishes to encourage vulnerability and sensibility through profound visuals. Stănel focuses on the emotional impact that the current state of affairs has on all those disenfranchised, victimized or otherwise affected by it. While not carrying any direct call to action, her works do not act as an escape from the world as it is, but rather seek to offer the kindness and emotional processing that everyone needs to grow.