Artist Statement

My art is a reflection of the technological movement. I consider NanoArt to be a more appealing and effective way to communicate with the general public and to raise the awareness for Nanotechnology and its impact on our lives. Nanotechnology deals with the synthesis, manipulation and characterization of matter at the sub-100 nanometers level. Nanotechnology is still an emerging area although commercial products are already on the market. Nanotechnology is a very powerful combination of technologies that could be extremely beneficial or extremely dangerous, including life threatening. I think the best way to keep things under control is Knowledge. Not only governments and military should know about these developments, but the general public at large should be informed. My images being attractive to the public from the esthetic point of view awaken the curiosity of my audience. As a result, people ask questions and have open discussions around these new technologies, and this is good because people will take informed decisions.
I bring the small world in front of my audience through high resolution electron microscope scans of natural micro or nanostructures and nanosculptures I create by physical or/and chemical processing. I paint and manipulate digitally the monochromatic electron images and print them on canvas or fine art paper with archival inks specially formulated to last for a long time. This way, the scientific images become artworks and could be showcased for a large audience to educate the public with creative images that are appealing and acceptable.
NanoArt is not Photography. The depth and three dimensions achieved in NanoArt sets this process of electron imaging apart from Photography, where images are created by photons (particles of light) rather than by electrons (electrically charged particles). The electrons penetrate deeper in the structure creating images with more depth, more natural 3D-look than the photographic images.

Artist Resume

• Born in Bucharest, Romania, Cris Orfescu lives and works in Los Angeles since 1991.
• 35 years of experimenting with different media and being involved in a variety of projects: NanoArt, digital art, murals, acrylic and oil painting, mixed media, faux painting, trompe l'oeil, graphics, animation, web design, logo design, and a backdrop for a TV show.
• Over 20 years of experimenting and perfecting a new art form, NANOART, which reflects the transition from Science to Art through Technology.
• Self-taught artist.
• International and national art exhibitions, awards, commissions, public and private collections.
• Awards
• March 2006, Los Angeles, California, USA - Winner in the international juried competition TOP 40 at Los Angeles Center for Digital Arts
• February 2006, London, UK - Diploma of Excellence in the international juried competition REAL-TIME
• September 2005, Los Angeles, California, USA - Winner in the 2006 Emerging Artist Calendar juried competition
• August 2005, London, UK - World of Art Award for the Best in Art and Creativity
• May 2005, Beverly Hills, California, USA - First Place Award in the New Media category at the AFFAIRE IN THE GARDENS art show
• October 2005, Burbank, California, USA - Honorable Mention - juried competition
• September 2005, Rome, Italy - Finalist in the DIGITALLY 2005 juried competition
• May 2005, Santa Monica, California, USA - Honorary Best in Show Award - Backstreet gallery juried competition
• December 2004, Rome, Italy - Finalist in the BEYOND BOUNDARIES 2004 juried competition
• Selected Exhibitions
• March-April 2009, San Diego, USA – NANOART SOLO SHOW – San Diego Science Festival
• November 2008, Stuttgart, Germany – THE 2nd INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF NANOART – NAHVISION Institute for International Culture Exchange, artist and show curator
• October 2008, Oviedo, Spain – NANOART SOLO SHOW – PRINCE OF ASTURIAS AWARDS
• November-December 2008, Torrance, USA – ENERGETIC LIGHT – El Camino College
• June 2008, San Diego, USA – NANOART MULTIMEDIA SHOW – 2008 BIO International Convention
• April-May 2008, Boston, USA – NANOART SLIDE SHOW – Boston Museum of Science, Cambridge Science Festival
• April 2008, Boston, USA – 45ft x 30ft DIGITAL MURAL – WGBH TV Station
• March 2008, Florence, Italy – SCIENZA ED ARTE – University of Florence
• December 2007, La Jolla, USA – NANOART EXTRAVAGANZA – Nano Tumor Center, University of San Diego
• November 2007, New Jersey, USA - EYE TRICKS - Walsh Gallery, Seton Hall University
• September-October 2007, Paris, France – OPEN ART 2007 – Villepinte Espace V Gallery
• September-October 2007, Paris, France – OPEN ART 2007 – Atelier Grognard Gallery, Rueil-Malmaison
• September 2007, Los Angeles, USA - ASTO INTERNATIONAL ART FESTIVAL – ASTO Museum of Art
• July 2007, Madrid, Spain - online solo show - Espacio Kubiko gallery
• May 2007, Kotka, Finland - THE 1st INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL of NANOART - Finland 2007, organized and curated by Cris Orfescu and Timo Mahonen
• May 2007, Kotka, Finland - NanoArt - solo show
• May 2007, Seoul, Korea - ASTO INTERNATIONAL ART FESTIVAL - National Assembly Library of Korea
• April 2007, Seoul, Korea - 2007 GWANGWHAMOON INTERNATIONAL ART FESTIVAL - Seojong Center
• November 2006, Dublin, Republic of Ireland - ART IRELAND
• November-December 2006, jFerrari Gallery, Los Angeles, California, USA - Figure It Out
• November-December 2006, Studio 246 Gallery, San Diego, California, USA - Featured Artist
• October-November 2006, Chania, Greece - THE 4^th INTERNATIONAL ART FESTIVAL CHANIA 2006
• April-July 2006, San Pedro, California, USA - ON SITE AT THE GATE 2006, juried exhibition, Angels Gate Gallery
• April-June 2006, San Diego, California, USA - 2006 INTERNATIONAL DIGITAL EXHIBITION, sponsored by SONY at the Museum of the Living Artist
• April 2006, Manizales, Colombia - THE 5th INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF THE IMAGE, Caldas University
• April 2006, Anchorage, Alaska, USA - SOFTCOPY, Kimura Gallery, University of Alaska
• March 2006, Los Angeles, California, USA - TOP 40, juried exhibition, Los Angeles Center for Digital Art
• February 2006, Los Angeles, California, USA - group show, Infusion Gallery
• January-February 2006, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA - 12 X 12, A National Juried Exhibition of Small Scale Works of Art - Todd Gallery, Middle Tennessee State University
• December 2005, Florence, Italy - THE 5th INTERNATIONAL BIENNALE OF CONTEMPORARY ART, Fortezza da Basso
• December 2005, Miami, Florida, USA - MASTERS MYSTERY ART SHOW 2005
• September 2005 - March 2006, Binghamton, New York, USA - THE 15th INTERNATIONAL MINI PRINT EXPO, Robertson Museum and Science Center
• October 2005, Beverly Hills, California, USA - AFFAIRE IN THE GARDENS
• October 2005, Burbank, California, USA - LEARNING AND PRODUCT EXPO: ART, Hilton Airport and Convention Center
• September-October 2005, Los Angeles, California, USA - SNAP TO GRID, Los Angeles Center for Digital Art
• August-September 2005, Pomona, California, USA - THE 2nd LATINO ART BIENNALE, Museum of Latino Art
• July 2005, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA - WORLD MARKET CENTER DEBUT, Las Vegas Convention Center
• June - July 2005, Hermosa Beach, California, USA - HERMOSA BEACH ART WALK
• June 2005, Los Angeles, California, USA - Bank of America Plaza
• May 2005, Beverly Hills, California, USA - AFFAIRE IN THE GARDENS
• May 2005, Santa Monica, California, USA - Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
• April 2005, Los Angeles, California, USA - NANOART and PHOTOGRAPHY
• February 2005, North Hollywood, California, USA - TWO MEN SHOW
• November 2004, Los Angeles, California, USA - NANOART 2004, solo show
• Commissions and Personal Collections
• Governor Kathleen Blanco of Louisiana
• Chaya Horrowitz, Manhattan Beach, California
• Julian Kovacs, Toluca Lake, California
• Dr. Raffaele La Ferla, Redondo Beach, California
• Dr. Larissa Malinovskaya, Torrance, California
• Van and Jerry Callaghan, Redondo Beach, California
• Judy and Carey Gordon, Los Angeles, California
• Flora and Felipe Bautista, Los Angeles, California
• Heather Cassano, Rancho Palos Verdes, California
• Michael Koenig, Santa Monica, California
• Public or Institutional Collections
• A.P.Smiley & Sons, Los Angeles, California
• La Casa Decor, Los Angeles, California
• South End Racquet and Tennis Club, Torrance, California
• Caleb Technology Corporation, Torrance, California
• Growing Garden School, Redondo Beach, California
• Papadatos S. A. Tourism - Hotels, Heraklion, Greece