About

Valentina Brostean (b. 1983, Novi Sad, Serbia) is a multidisciplinary visual artist based in Barcelona. After more than a decade living and working in Turin, Italy, she established her practice in Spain. She holds a BFA in Graphic Design and an MFA in Illustration from the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Novi Sad.

Working across painting, collage, drawing, and digital media, Brostean has developed a distinctive visual language that merges contemporary figuration with surreal narrative structures and layered symbolic imagery. Her practice explores the intersections of memory, identity, the subconscious, and emotional experience, constructing psychologically charged worlds in which reality and imagination coexist. Through a process of fragmentation and reconstruction, familiar forms are transformed into poetic visual narratives that invite multiple readings while resisting fixed interpretation.

Characterized by complex compositions, chromatic intensity, and meticulous formal balance, her work navigates the tension between instinct and control, intimacy and estrangement. Drawing equally from the traditions of illustration, contemporary painting, and collage, Brostean has cultivated a highly individual visual vocabulary that transcends disciplinary boundaries while maintaining a singular artistic voice.

Alongside her studio practice, Brostean has worked extensively as an editorial and fashion illustrator, collaborating with international publications and cultural institutions. Her clients have included Armani Exchange, The Washington Post, Corriere della Sera, Bicycle USA, and Kabinet Brewery, among others. Her work has been published internationally and exhibited in solo and group exhibitions throughout Europe, the United States, and the Middle East.

Brostean is represented by ILLOZOO Creative Agency

For collaborations, commissions, or inquiries:
pisivalentini@gmail.com

SELECTED CLIENTS:

BOOKS:

Symposion 73 | Trauma & Nostalgia, Hungary 2020
Crunch ED Associazione Culturale | 50 morsi alla luna, IT 2019
Power and Influence of Illustration | Bloomingdales, USA 2019
Fantastic Illustration | DESIGNERBOOKS, China 2016
Mix and Match – Exploring contemporary collage | SANDU publications, China 2017
Collage – Make the Impossible Possible | Send Points publishing, China 2018
Walk on the wild side | Drago publishing, Rome, IT 2014

ONLINE FEATURES:

AWARDS:

2024 | First award for illustration series, Exer Art Competition / Mikser Balkan Festival

2018 | First award for the product design – illustration on national design competition organized by leading cookware brand “Metalac”, Serbia

2014 | First award for the illustrated graphic novel “Why ladybirds eat people” at BookILL Fest – International book fair Novi Sad, Serbia

2009 | First award – Golden plaque for the illustrated graphic novel “Why ladybirds eat people” at biennial of illustration Golden Pen of Belgrade, Serbia

2007 | First prize – Golden plaque for theater poster project on 12. international biennial of theater poster “Sterijino Pozorje”, Serbia

2006 | “Academy year award” – for the best-graduated student on Academy of Arts Novi Sad – department for graphic design and illustration, Serbia

SOLO EXHIBITIONS:

2025 | Sala Nusus, Barcelona, Spain (Dipartimento de las almas perdidas y encontradas)
2025 | Arte Amore Sitges Gallery, Spain (Silent Shout | Darwings)
2024 | Mali Likovni Salon, Novi Sad, Serbia (Army of the Soul Breaking Through)
2024 | Drap Art Org, Barcelona, Spain (NOMADS)
2024 | Piso Vació, Barcelona, Spain (OXIMOROS)
2023 | SKCNS Fabrika, Novi Sad, Serbia (Why Do Ladybirds Eat People?)
2021 | Darts – The Dealers, Turin, Italy (Illustrated Alphabet Series)
2019 | Krokodil centar – Engaging words, Belgrade, Serbia (Once it was us – Digital collage series)
2019 | Kulturni centar LAB, Novi Sad, Serbia (U okeanu postojanja – Digital collage series)
2019 | Galerija Stepeniste, Sumatovacka, Serbia (U okeanu postojanja – Digital collage series)
2018 | Zivi Atelje DK, Zagreb, Croatia (Drawings series “Only us, humans”)
2013 | Amantes cultural center, Torino, Italy (Mixed media series “Samsara”)
2012 | Dorothy Circus Gallery, Rome, Italy (Paintings series “Last drop of innocence”)
2012 | Galo Art Gallery, Torino, Italy (Paintings series “NEVERLAND”)
2011 | Pagus Gallery, Philadelphia, USA (Paintings series “NEVERLAND”)
2011 | Fache Arts Gallery, Miami, USA (Paintings & drawings series, selection)
2010 | Belgrade cultural center, Serbia (Mixed media illustrations “Why ladybirds eat people?”)
2009 | Fache Arts Gallery, Miami, USA (Paintings & drawings series “Stories from a Neverland”)

GROUP EXHIBITIONS (SELECTION):

2025 | Est_Art_Space, Madrid, Spain (FEM-IN-ART,
2025 | Baubo Art Gallery, Ocata (Barcelona), Spain (Inadaptados)
2025 | Baubo Art Gallery, Ocata (Barcelona), Spain (vvvvvInspire Inclusion)
2025 | Uxval Gochez Gallery, Barcelona, Spain (Planets)
2024 | Uxval Gochez Gallery, Barcelona, Spain (Fantasies)
2024 | Mikser Design Festival, Belgrade, Serbia (No Middle Ground)
2021 | Valid World Hall Gallery, Barcelona, Spain (Barcelona Contemporary Art Fair)
2019 | Foreshadows – Prefigurazioni (K SPACES, Turin, IT)
2018 | THIS COVER – Tutto è possibile (“Torino Graphic Days” curated by Curve creative agency, Turin, IT)
2018 | Not safe for woman (“To graphic days” curated by ILLO – Tv creative agency, Turin, IT)
2018 | Black & White Nights (K Spaces gallery, Torino, IT)
2018 | Libri d’artista (K Spaces gallery, Torino, IT)
2017 | A night at the movies – by Tim Burton (Penumbra Gallery, Lisbon, PT)
2016 | Corpus Dei (Nero Gallery, Roma, IT)
2016 | Cube show (Baker + Hasseldenz gallery, CA, USA)
2016 | Svelata – erotic extracts from Italian scene (Gallery Cell 63, Berlin, DE)
2015 | Coexist or die show (By Arte in Barriera foundation, Turin – Rome, IT)
2015 | Storybook show (Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco, USA)
2015 | Zimmerman show (Gristle Art Gallery, NY, USA)
2015 | Idiot Box (Gallery 1988, Los Angeles, USA)
2015 | Comedians (Gallery 1988, Los Angeles, USA)
2014 | Art Auction (KOLEKTIV1, NY, USA)
2014 | MAD in Italy (Enim Artist gallery, Milan, IT)
2014 | Hidden Kingdoms show (Dream factory gallery, Frankfurt, DE)
2014 | Il posto delle favole (Edizione)
2014 | Colletiva a Rocca Sinibalda (Museo A. Miniucchi, IT)
2013 | Lacrima Aquarium (Aquario Romano MUSEUM and Dorothy Circus Gallery, Rome, IT)
2013 | Wanderlust (Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco, USA)
2013 | 6 impossible things before breakfast (Dream factory gallery, Frankfurt, DE)
2013 | Abu Dhabi Art Hub (Italian masters Exhibition, Abu Dhabi, UAE)
2013 | Stroke art fair (Pretty Portal Gallery, Munich, DE)
2013 | Bears in the honor of spring (UK Parobord, Belgrade, RS)
2013 | Painted sound (Flower-pepper gallery, Pasadena, USA)
2012 | Urban Expo (Pretty Portal Gallery, Dusseldorf, DE)
2012 | Pop surrealism – Stay foolish (Museo Casa del Conte Verde & Dorothy Circus Gallery, Rivoli, IT)
2012 | Runaway circus (Auguste Clown Gallery, Melbourne, AU)
2012 | SWAB – Art fair (With Dorothy Circus Gallery, Barcelona, SP)
2012 | Game over (The Nova Belgica Art Gallery, Saint Truden, BE)
2012 | Illustrated (Pretty Portal Gallery, Dusseldorf, DE)
2011 | Summer show (Hive Gallery, LA, USA)
2011 | Alterazioni Visive (Arcidosso, IT)
2009 | Golden Pen of Belgrade (International Triennial of Illustration, Belgrade, RS)
2009 | Cut & Paste (Stockholm, SW)

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