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By 2022, I was no longer at the beginning. I had experience behind me, lessons learned, disappointments processed. But with experience came something else: higher standards — and deeper doubts.
AUTOR, the contemporary jewelry fair in Bucharest, felt intimidating. For a long time, I didn’t even consider applying. I was convinced I wouldn’t be selected. My aesthetic — dark, gothic, unapologetically intense — had often been met with hesitation. I carried the quiet feeling that people tended to avoid my work. That it was “too much.” Too dramatic. Too extra. Too charged.
And yet, AUTOR received me.
I presented a mix of collections: fragments of Vertebral, pieces from InGherat, and new works that continued those same directions. I gathered them under a name that felt natural: The Urban Witch. I sent them into the world loaded with good energy — but without expectations. I had learned not to build castles before doors opened.
The fair took place in a stunning palace in Bucharest. The setting mattered. It elevated everything without overpowering it. The public was open, informed, curious — spiritually hungry after two years of pandemic silence. There was a palpable desire for meaning, for objects that carried more than surface beauty.
Once again, I felt overwhelmed — but this time in a different way. The diversity of the selected artists was strong and coherent. The curation felt intentional. I met extraordinary international artists, formed friendships, and had conversations that extended far beyond the booths.
For me, AUTOR was a turning point. My first true success of this kind. My objects were not just looked at — they were seen. Appreciated. Admired. Desired. Purchased.
That kind of event feeds you for a year. It leaves you with a reservoir of energy that sustains the next cycle of creation. It restores confidence without inflating ego. It reminds you why you do this.
Congratulations to the organizers for an impeccable event — thoughtful, rigorous, and generous. I felt seen. I felt respected. I felt valued as an artist.
Once again, the standards rose. And once you see what a well-organized, carefully curated event looks like — one built with the genuine desire to create something meaningful for everyone involved — you can no longer accept less.
AUTOR 2022 did not change my direction.
It confirmed it.
