Giving form to a thought– whether in writing, painting, or another medium– can change our mind. Only once we attempt to articulate an idea can we actually see it. Otherwise, it remains abstract. – Iulia Nistor
In her painting practice, Nistor explores the differences between language and image. A question that has preoccupied her over the past decade is whether the depiction of accidental properties is possible. The paintings that emerged from this inquiry are both a study of perception and a dedication to what is usually excluded, overlooked, or ignored in concept formation. In the recent Revision series, Nistor paints fragments of handwritten notes marked with corrections. Writing is treated as drawing, and although it resembles spontaneous traces, it is rendered visible only through the sanding of the painting’s surface. For her, both writing and painting are practices of questioning and doubt. Nistor's spatial interventions extend these concerns into literal space. By mimicking architectural, material, or functional elements that tend to be overlooked as structural components of a space, these interventions expose our assumptions about what is given and what is made. Like anti-readymades, concealed rather than made more conspicuous by their context, these works are not indicated on gallery floor plans or lists of works, and the presence of other artworks further deflects viewers’ attention away from them. These works are manifestations of mischievous humor as well as acknowledgments that, as much as artworks determine our perception of them, we construct their reality in our minds.
Iulia Nistor (b. 1985, Bucharest, Romania) lives and works in Berlin and São Paulo.
Nistor is an artist and philosopher working in the philosophy of mind. She holds a Doctorate in Philosophy from the University of Regensburg, Germany, received a Meisterschüler from the Städelschule in Frankfurt am Main, and participated in the Whitney Independent Study Program.
The artist’s recent solo exhibitions include paintings and propositions, Plan B, Berlin (2024); properties without object, Mendes Wood DM, New York (2023); Revenge of the Given, Plan B, Berlin (2019); Two Forward, Three Back, Mendes Wood DM, Brussels (2019).
Nistor’s recent group exhibitions include Prototype, Whitney Museum of American Art / Westbeth Gallery, New York (2025); IT’S NO CRIME TO TICKLE TIME: 20 Years of Plan B, Plan B, Berlin (2025); Hocus Focus, Conector / Off-space, Cluj-Napoca (2025); Pictorial Resonance, Thomas Schulte, Berlin (2024); Linhas Tortas, Mendes Wood DM, São Paulo (2023); BETAMAX, Galleri Nils Staerk, Copenhagen (2022); Living together – Crossing borders, 4th Mediterranean Biennial, Sakhnin (2021); Secret Wing, Art Encounters Biennale, Timișoara (2021); EnormousBalls, Mendes Wood DM, Brussels (2020); Rethinking the Image of the World / Projects and Sketches, Ianchelevichi Museum, La Louvière (2019); After Rubens, Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main (2018).
-
Evidence L4 F1 A7, 2023 -
Evidence E8 F0 A1, 2022
-
Evidence L2 F/W0 A9, 2022
-
Evidence E/L0 W9 A5, 2022
-
Evidence E9 F1 P3, 2022
-
Evidence E9 W4 A/P0, 2022
-
Evidence L1 W1 P1, 2022
-
Evidence L5 W8 P1, 2022
-
Evidence L7 F2 A/P0, 2022
-
Evidence E1 F5 A8, 2020
-
Evidence E1 F5 P6, 2020
-
Evidence L2 F8 A8, 2020
-
Linhas Tortas
Curated by Diana Campbell Sep 2 – Nov 4, 2023 São Paulo, Barra FundaLinhas Tortas is a multi-venue international group exhibition that celebrates the entanglements of journeys and the power of storytelling, marking a decade of Mendes Wood DM. Inspired by the Brazilian...View Exhibition -
Linhas Tortas
Curated by Diana Campbell Sep 2 – Nov 11, 2023 São Paulo, Casa IramaiaLinhas Tortas is a multi-venue international group exhibition that celebrates the entanglements of journeys and the power of storytelling, marking a decade of Mendes Wood DM. Inspired by the Brazilian...View Exhibition -
properties without object
Iulia Nistor Feb 3 – Mar 5, 2023 New YorkMendes Wood DM New York Feb 3 - Mar 5, 2023 Mendes Wood DM is delighted to present properties without object , Iulia Nistor’s third solo exhibition with the gallery...View Exhibition -
EnormousBalls
Group Exhibition Jun 13 – Jul 18, 2020 BrusselsAdriano Costa, Fernando Marques Penteado, Sonia Gomes, Paulo Nazareth, Michael Dean, Celso Renato, Amadeo Luciano Lorenzato, Kishio Suga, Solange Pessoa, Paloma Bosquê, Marina Perez Simão, Lucas Arruda, Daniel Steegmann Mangrané,...View Exhibition -
Two Forward, Three Back
Iulia Nistor Jan 26 – Mar 9, 2019 BrusselsMendes Wood DM Brussels is pleased to present Two Forward, Three Back, an exhibition of new paintings by Iulia Nistor. In her first solo show in Belgium, the Romanian-born artist...View Exhibition -
Eary Poise
Iulia Nistor Nov 25, 2017 – Jan 2, 2018 São Paulo, ConsolaçãoMendes Wood DM is pleased to present Eary Poise , Iulia Nistor’s first solo exhibition in São Paulo. The artist introduces her new paintings on wood. These works are the...View Exhibition -
Track Changes
by Plan B Sep 9 – Oct 30, 2016 São Paulo, ConsolaçãoCurated by Plan B Ioana Batranu, Rudolf Bone, Sorin Campan, Victor Ciato, Horia Damian, Belu-Simion Fainaru, Adrian Ghenie, Octav Grigorescu, Victor Man, Ciprian Muresan, Iulia Nistor, Miklos Onucsan, Serban Savu...View Exhibition
Sign up to our newsletter to receive the latest updates about Iulia Nistor and the gallery
* denotes required fields
We will process the personal data you have supplied to communicate with you in accordance with our Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe or change your preferences at any time by clicking the link in our emails.
