Despite a life buffeted by communism and 1989 Romanian Revolution, by emigration and starting a completely new life in USA, Victor Tapu preserved in his artwork a sense of peace and beauty. That is why each Art Lover who once saw his art is spellbound and keeps in mind his unique brand of creativity.

Victor Tapu was born in Romania, but he has been always proud of his Polish roots. Victor's grand-father Jan Fialkowski immigrated as a young boy with his parents to Moldova (Romania) after the Krakowian uprising in the end of 19 century.

At the age of 13 Victor enrolled in the School of Arts in his native city of Bacau where he attended also the regular High School. He studied scenography at Academy of Fine Arts in Bucharest, Romania graduating with a Master of Arts degree in stage designing and filmmaking and supplemented his education with a study at famous director Jozef Szajna's "Studio-Theatre" in Warsaw, Poland.

In addition to fine art, Victor Tapu worked throughout Romania as an art director, creating sets and costumes for more than twenty feature and animated movies and over thirty stage plays. He was also quite active in organizing individual or group fine art exhibitions in Romania and abroad. He was very successful with fine art exhibits especially in Poland where he was often invited by dramatic theaters, Department of Culture, Polish Writers Association etc. One of Victor Tapu's own sculpture exhibits in Warsaw - Poland, sold out the day after opening (1980). Also he worked as Art Director in first Polish-Romanian movie coproduction, creating sets for "Golden Train" directed by Bohdan Poreba in 1986.

Victor Tapu came to the United States in 1990 on a first preference Visa as an outstanding artist, being recommended, among others, by the famous art critic and patron of arts Mrs. Dominique de Menil (some of Victor's artworks are in the famous Menil Collection in Houston).

He established his own Studio & Gallery "Victor's Fine Arts" in Houston in 1992. Since his arrival he has enjoyed a supportive relationship with art dealers, art festivals, and he completed commission of paintings and sculptures for numerous individuals and corporations. He works in many media including oil, pastel, acrylic and wood sculpting.

Victor Tapu's artworks has found its way into prestigious private and state collections in United States, Romania, Poland, Germany, Hungary, Bulgaria, Israel, Brazil and as well as Canada, Holland, Sweden and Greece.

Recent awards:
Featured Poster Artist at Old Pecan Street Festival, Austin, TX in 2011
Featured Poster Artist at City Arts Celebration, Dallas TX in 2007
Best of Show at 35th Annual CHUN People's Fair, Denver CO in 2006


 

RESUME

 

SUMMARY

Art Director for performing arts; Artist Painter; Drawer; Sculptor; Interior Designer.

Numerous individual and group fine art exhibitions in Romania, Poland, Greece and U.S.A

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Victor’s Fine Arts (Houston, Texas ) – owner                                            1991 - 2015

Fine Arts Company specializing in art painting, art sculpting,

digital reproduction and fine art printing of original artwork and

computer aided design.

 

Romanian National Movie Production Company, Bucharest                  1988 – 1990

Art Director for 4 feature movies

 

Dramatic Theater (Brasov, Romania)                                                         1986 – 1988

Stage designer for various theatrical plays

 

Romanian National Movie Production Company, Bucharest                  1976 – 1986

Art Director for 16 feature movies

 

“C. Tanase” – Music-Hall Theater, Bucharest – Romania                       1974 – 1976

Stage and costume designer for theatrical plays and musicals

 

Free Lance Stage Designer                                                                        1968 – 1974

Working with three theatres in Romania (Galati, Brasov, Bacau)

 

Romanian TV Network, Bucharest – Romania                                         1963 – 1973

Author of animated movies, cartoons and caricatures

 

EDUCATION

“Nicolae Grigorescu” Academy of Fine Arts, Bucharest – Romania, Art Director MA

Special Grant for fine arts studies at “Studio Szajna” Warsaw  - Poland

 

AWARDS

National Contest in Performing Arts - Romania (Best Art Director)             1975, 1987     

35th Annual CHUN Capitol Peoples Fair (Denver) - Best of Show               2006

Featured Poster Artist at City Arts Celebration, Dallas                                  2007

Featured Poster Artist at Old Pecan Street, Austin                                       2001

VICTOR TAPU

FEATURE MOVIES – Art Director (sets & costumes)

1987    The great defiance Polish – Romanian Co-production

                                    With: Florin Zamfirescu & Maia Morgenstein

                                    Director: Manole Marcus

1985    The golden train Polish – Romanian Co-production

                                    With: Mitica Popescu & Waclaw Ulewicz

                                    Director: Bohdan Poreba

1983    Scent of the late rains - Romanian production

                                    With: Maria Ploaie & Colea Rautu

                                    Director: Mircea Moldovan

1982    Hot crumb of loaf – Romanian production

                                    With: Vistrian Roman

                                    Director: Al. G. Croitoru

1981    Musketeers on vacation – Romanian production

                                    With: Children Actors

                                    Director: Savel Stiopul

1980    The Convoy – Romanian production

                                    With: Ernest Maftei, Emil Hossu & Traian Stanescu

                                    Director: Mircea Moldovan

1979    Morning Gates – Romanian production

                                    With: Teofil Vilcu & SerbanIonescu

                                    Director: Radu Gurau

1978    The Damage – Romanian production)

                                    With: Emil Hossu& Margareta Pogonat

                                    Director: Stefan Traian Roman

1977    Reunion - Romanian production

                                    With: Violeta Andrei, Margareta Pogonat, Emil Hossu, FlorinPiersic

                                    Director: Stefan Traian Roman

1976    The last days of summer - Romanian production

                                    With: Cornel Coman& George Mihaita

                                    Director: SavelStiopul

1975    The strange agent - Romanian production

                                    With: Florin Piersic & Radu Beligan

                                    Director: Savel Stipoul



VICTOR TAPU
FINE ART EXHIBITIONS, JURRIED PROFESSIONALART SHOWS & COMMISSIONS

2010        EXHIBITIONS
                            Victor’s Fine Arts Gallery, Houston, TX (oil paintings, sculpture, collages)
                            Mason’s Gallery    , Spring, TX (oil paintings)
                            Monticello Gallery, Dallas, TX (oil paintings)
                            Milagros Gallery, Fort Worth, TX (oil paintings)
                 JURIED PROFESSIONAL ART SHOWS
                            The Spring Round Top Art Fair, Round Top, TX
                            Sherwood Forest Fair, Austin, TX
                            Lake Travis Spring Fest, Austin, TX
                            32nd Annual Spring old Pecan St. Festival, Austin, TX
                            City Arts, Dallas, TX
                            Texas Arts Fair, Kerrville, TX
                            Rockport Art Festival, Rockport, TX
                            Taste of Dallas Art Festival, Dallas, TX
                            Septemberfest, Midland, TX
                            The 29th Annual Fall Old Pecan St. Festival, Austin, TX
                            Oktoberfest, Fredericksburg, TX
                            ArtoberFest, Galveston, TX
2009        EXHIBITIONS
                            Victor’s Fine Arts Gallery, Houston, TX (oil paintings, sculpture, jewelry)
                            Allure Gallery, Galveston, TX  (oil paintings, photography)
                            Antique on Post-office Street, Galveston, TX (oil paintings, photography)
                JURIED PROFESSIONAL ART SHOWS
                            Rotary Art Festival, South Miami, FL
                            Spring Fest, Old Town Spring, TX
                            Artscape, Dallas, TX
                            Bellaire Art Festival, Houston, TX
                            31st Annual Spring Old Pecan St, Festival, Austin, TX
                            Art of Texas, Kerrville, TX
                            City Arts, Dallas, TX
                            40th Annual Rockport Art Festival, Rockport, TX
                            40th Anniversary SeptemberFest, Midland, TX
                            27th Annual Fall Old Pecan St. Festival, Austin, TX
                            Oktoberfest, Fredericksburg, TX
                            ArtOberFest, Galveston, TX
                            Huffhines Art Trails, Richardson, TX
                            5th Annual Thanksgiving Invitational Arts Show, Fredericksburg, TX
                            Keep Austin Bizarre, Austin, TX
2008        EXHIBITIONS
                            Victor’s Fine Arts, Houston, TX (oil paintings, sculpture, and digital art)
                            Allure Gallery, Galveston, TX (oil paintings, digital art and photography)
                            Emporium Gallery, Galveston, TX (oil paintings, digital art)
                            Magguci Gallery, Houston, TX (oil paintings)
                            Monticello Gallery, Houston, TX (oil paintings)
                            Mason’s Gallery, Spring, TX (oil paintings and digital art)
                 JURIED PROFESSIONAL ART SHOWS
                            Rotary Art festival, South Miami, FL
                            Spring Art Festival, Round Top, TX
                            Art Festival, Lubbock, TX
                            30thAnnual Spring Old Pecan St. Art Festival, Austin, TX
                            Artfest, Dallas, TX
                            Art & Jazz Festival, McKinney, TX
                            City Arts Celebration, Dallas, TX
                            26th  Annual Fall Old Pecan St. Art Festival, Austin, TX
                            Octoberfest, Fredericksburg, TX
                            ArtOberFest, Galveston, TX
                            Keep Austin Bizarre Art Show, Austin, TX
2007         EXHIBITS
                            Victor’s Fine Arts Gallery, Houston, TX (oil paintings, digital art and sculpture)
                            Antiques on Postoffce St Gallery, Galveston, TX (oil paintings, photography)
                            Emporium Gallery, Galveston, TX (oil paintings, digital art)
                            Magucci Gallery, Houston, TX (oil paintings)
                            Milagros Gallery, Fort Worth, TX (oil paintings, photography)
                            Monticello Gallery, Dallas (oil paintings)
                            Bank of America Headquarter, Houston, TX (One-man Show / Oil paintings)
                  JURIED PROFESSIONAL ART SHOWS
                            29th Annual Art Festival, Lubbock, TX
                            Celebration of the Arts, Midland, TX
                            

                            Art & Jazz Festival, Denton, TX
                            29th Annual Spring Old Pecan St. Art festival, Austin, TX
                            Artfest, Addison, TX City Arts Celebration, Dallas, TX (Featured artist)
                            Art Festival, Copper Mountain, CO
                            Septemberfest, Midland, TX
                            Oktoberfest, Fredericksburg, TX
                            ArtOberFest, Galveston, TX
                            Art & Craft Festival, Fountain Hill, AZ
                            Keep Austin Bizarre, Austin, TX
2006         EXBITIONS
                            Victor’s Fine Arts Gallery, Houston, TX (oil paintings, digital art & sculpture)
                            Hart & Design Center, Houston, TX (oil paintings and digital art)
                            Antiques on Post-office St., Galveston, TX
                            Emporium Gallery, Galveston, TX (oil paintings)
                            Island Book Gallery, Galveston, TX (oil paintings)
                            The Market Gallery, Galveston, TX (oil paintings, digital art)
                            Muir Fine Art Gallery, Houston, TX (oil paintings)
                            Milagros Gallery, Fort worth, TX (oil paintings, photography)
                            Monticello Gallery, Dallas, TX (oil paintings)
                            Magucci Gallery, Houston, TX (oil paintings)
                 JURIED PROFESSIONAL ART SHOWS
                            Art festival, Wellington, FL.
                            12th Annual Art Festival, St. Pete, FL
                            Rotary Art Festival, South Miami, FL
                            Festival of Arts, Tempe, AZ
                            Deep Ellum Arts Festival, Dallas, TX
                            Artists in the Square, Southlake, TX
                            Celebration of the Arts, Midland, TX
                            Artfest, Addison, TX
                            City Arts Celebration, Dallas, TX
                            35th Annual CHUN Capitol Hill People’s Fair
                            Custer Art Fair, Chicago, IL
                            Easton Arts Affair, Columbus, OH
                            Art Festival, Fremont, CA
                            Oktoberfest, Fredericksburg, TX
                            ArtOberFest, Galveston, TX
                            Huffhines Art Trails, Richardson, TX
2005        EXHIBITS
                            Victor’s Fine Arts Gallery, Houston, TX (oil paintings, digital art and sculpture)   
                            Hart Art & Design Center, Houston, TX (oil paintings and digital art)
                            Monticello Gallery, Dallas, TX (oil paintings)
                            The Market Gallery, Galveston, TX (oil paintings and digital art)
                            Antiques on Post-office St. Gallery, Galveston, TX (oil paintings and digital art)
                            Whit Stone Gallery, The Woodlands, TX (One-man show/oil paintings)
                            Muir Fine Art Gallery, Houston, TX (oil paintings)
                            Monticello Gallery, Dallas, TX (oil paintings)
                 JURIED PROFFESIONAL ART SHOWS
                            Deep Ellum Arts festival, Dallas, TX
                            Old Pecan St Art Festival, Austin, TX
                            Artfest, Addison, TX
                            34th Annual CHUN Capitol Hill People’s Fair, Denver, CO
                            Arts Festival, Detroit, MI
                            Easton Arts Affair, Columbus, OH
                            Art festival, Colorado Spring, CO
                            30th Annual Art Festival, Breckenridge, CO
                            Fine Arts festival, Chicago, IL
                            River Art show, San Antonio, TX
                            ArtOberFest, Galveston, TX
                            Huffhines Arts Trail, Richardson, TX
2004         EXHIBITIONS
                            The Yellow Rose Pavilion, Galveston, TX (oil paintings)
                            Hall Street Gallery, Old Seabrook, TX (oil paintings)
                            Monticello Gallery, Dallas, TX (oil paintings)
                            Island Book Gallery, Galveston, TX (oil paintings, photography)
                  JURIED PROFESSIONAL ART SHOWS
                            Deep Ellum Arts festival, Dallas, TX
                            Old Pecan St. Art Festival, Austin, TX
                            Artfest, Dallas, TX
                            Art Affair, Columbus, OH
                            Cottonwood Art Featival, Richardson, TX
                            ArtOberFest, Galveston, TX
                            Huffhines Art Trails, Richardson, TX
2003        EXHIBITIONS
                            Eibands Gallery, Galveston, TX (One-Man Show “Musical Vibration f Colors”)
                            Monticello Gallery, Dallas, TX (Featured Artist -oil paintings)
                            Hall Street Gallery, Old Seabrook, TX (Featured Artist – oil paintings)
                JURIED PROFESSIONAL ART SHOWS
                            Old Pecan St Art festival, Austin, TX
                            Art & Jazz in the Square, Richardson, TX
                            Artfest, Dallas, TX
                            ArtOberFest, Galveston, TX
2002        EXHIBITIONS
                            Hall Street Gallery, Seabrook, TX (oil paintings)
                            Monticello Gallery, Dallas, TX (oil paintings)
                            Eibands Gallery, Galveston, TX (oil paintings)
                            2nd Street Art Show, Seabrook, TX (group fine art exhibit)
                JURIED PROFESSIONAL ART SHOWS
                            Old Pecan St. Art Festival, Austin, TX
                            Bayback Art Show, Seabrook, TX
                            Art & Jazz in the Square, McKinney, TX
                            Cottonwood Art Festival, Richardson, TX
                            ArtOberFest, Galveston, TX
                            My Lady’s Fair, Lafayette, LA
                            Huffhines Art Trails, Richardson, TX
2001        EXHIBITIONS
                            Earth Works Gallery, Lake Charles, LA (oil paintings)
                            Eibands Gallery, Galveston, TX
                            Monticello Gallery, Dallas, Tx
                  JURIED PROFESSIONAL ART SHOWS
                            Pelican Path Project – Art & Film Festival, Seabrook, TX
                            Cottonwood Art festival, Richardson, TX
                            ArtOberFest, Galveston, TX
2000        EXHIBITIONS
                            Earth Works Gallery, Lake Charles, LA (oil paintings)
                            Eibands Gallery, Galveston, TX (oil paintings)
                            Monticello Gallery, Dallas, TX
                 JURRIED PROFESSIONAL ART SHOWS
                            ArtOberFest, Galveston, TX
1999        EXHIBITIONS
                            Clear Lake Designer Resources, Houston, TX (oil paintings)
                            Dean Day Gallery, Houston, TX (oil paintings)
                            Earth Works Gallery, Lake Charles, LA (oil paintings)
                            Monticello Gallery, Dallas (oil paintings)
1998        EXHIBITIONS
                            Clear Lake Designer Resources, Houston, TX (oil paintings)
                            Design Resources, Houston, TX (oil paintings)
                            Earth Works Gallery, Lake Charles, LA (oil paintings)
                            Monticello Gallery, Dallas, TX (oil paintings)
                 JURIED PROFESSIONAL ART SHOWS
                            Fiesta Art Caravan – Museum of Fine Arts, Austin, TX
                            Island Art Show, Galveston, TX
1997        EXHIBITIONS
                            Design Resources, Houston, TX (oil paintings)
                            Earth Works Gallery, Lake Charles, LA (One-Man Show / Collages)
                            Monticello Gallery, Dallas, TX (oil paintings)
                JURIED PROFESSIONAL ART SHOWS
                            Bayou City Art Festival, Houston, TX
1996        EXHIBITIONS
                            Earth Works Gallery, Lake Charles, LA (oil paintings)
                            La CharlGallery, Houston, TX (oil paintings)
                            Molina S’avancer Gallery, Houston, TX (wood sculpture & oil paintings)
                            Monticello Gallery, Dallas, TX (oil paintings)
                            Spirit Echoes Gallery(Ten-Man Show), Austin, TX (oil paintings)
                            Tim Hamrock Interiors, Houston, TX (oil paintings)
1995        EXHIBITIONS
                            Florian Arts & Antiques Gallery, Houston, TX (oil paintings)
                            Gabriel Galleries of Houston, TX (oil paintings)
                            Millioud Gallery, Houston, TX (oil paintings)
1994        EXHIBITIONS
                            Florian Arts & Antiques Gallery, Houston, TX (oil paintings)
                            Gabriel Galleries of Houston, TX (oil paintings)
                            Millioud Gallery, Houston, TX (oil paintings)
1993        EXHIBITIONS
                            First Romanian Festival, Houston, TX (oil paintings & sculptures)
                            Florian Arts & Antiques Gallery, Houston, TX (oil paintings)
                 DONATION
                            Painting and sculpting the Iconostas for the Romanian Orthodox Church
                            “Maria Magdalena”, Houston TX
1992        EXHIBITIONS
                            Biedermeier Gallery, Houston, TX (oil paintings)
                            Creative Spaces Gallery, Houston, TX (oil paintings)
                            New Orleans Gallery, Houston, TX (oil paintings)

1991        EXHIBITIONS
                            Design Directions International Gallery, Houston, TX (oil paintings)
                 COMMISSIONED ART WORKS
                            Icons for the Romanian Orthodox Church “ST. Maria”, Dallas, TX
                       Portraits of famous actors (Frank Sinatra, John Wayne, Marlon Brando,  Sylvester Stallone, Guido Sarducci, Robert de Niro, Clint Eastwood, Sophia Loren)  commissioned by art collector Mr. Dick                             Tenembaum
                            Portrait of baseball player Nolan Ryan
                 EUROPEAN EXHIBITIONS
1989                   Sculptures and Graphics (one-man show) - Writer Association, Warsaw, Poland
1986                   ”Fantasy” – Sculpture (one-man show) – Culture Place, Warsaw, Poland
1985                   Stage Design Triennial, Dalles Hall, Bucharest, Romania
1983                   “Paintings & Plastic Forms” – Municipality Gallery, Bucharest, Romania
1981                   Stage Design Triennial, Dalles Hall, Bucharest, Romania
1980                   “Nuances of feelings” – Collages (one-man show), Warsaw, Poland
1979                   Stage Design Triennial, Dalles Hall, Bucharest, Romania
1976                   Stage Design Triennial, Dalles Hall, Bucharest, Romania
1974                   Caricatures (one-man show) – Dramatic Theater, Bacau, Romania
1971                   Stage Design Triennial, Dalles Hall, Bucharest, Romania
                            “Paintings” (one-man show) – Dramatic Theater, Bacau, Romania
1970                   "Graphics & Sketches” (one-man show), Dramatic Theater, Bacau, Romania