Luminara Florescu
Castle Cary
Luminara Florescu is a British born artist, curator and artist mentor based in rural Somerset. Her art practice occupies the intersection of art, advocacy, and activism.
I am a British born artist, curator and artist mentor based in rural Somerset. My art practice occupies the intersection of art, advocacy, and activism and is deeply rooted in my lived experience as a disabled and neurodivergent artist. One significant part of my artistic mission is to explore the concept of Resting, Slowing Down, and Doing Less as a powerful means to combat climate change. By questioning the societal norms of consumerism and hyper productivity, I aim to offer Rest as an antidote to these detrimental practices. My practice delves into ideas of Inclusion, Access, and Rest, challenging the capitalist constructs of Grind Culture and Over Working. Through acts of gentle protest and creative activism, I seek to test and transcend perceived boundaries of art.
After taking a career break due to caring responsibilities, I returned to my art practice in 2018 securing a Somerset Art Works, Creative Pathways Artist Bursary.
Since 2019 I have been the co-founder and lead the pioneering Art Behind Bars programme in partnership with Shepton Mallet Prison. This initiative not only redefines art's role outside of the white walls of the gallery environment, but also serves as a platform for emerging artists' voices to be heard through exhibitions such as B-Wing (2019), Artist Prison Residencies (2021), and Outside In (2022).
Other key achievements include the Freedom Learning project (Somerset Art Works, Artist Micro Commission), And the Children Shall Lead- Giant Board Game (Somerset Art Works, Artist Project Development Bursary), B-Wing exhibition (Arts Council England Project Grant), Contract of Self Care (a-n Artist Information Company's Time, Space, Money artist bursary), Rest As Protest (Develop Your Creative Practice (DYCP) Grant.) and most recently the Somerset Film, Artist in Residence film commission for her film installation – Social Gardening (The Mind At Rest).
Luminara Florescu
07807 072322
BA (Hons) in Fine Art Kingston University
Arts Award Advisor, Trinity College London
Co-Founder & Creative Director of HEARTHSTONE Ways CIC (2020 -2023)
Awards and Commissions
2023 - Artist Film Commission - Somerset Film.
2022 – Develop Your Creative Practice (DYCP) Grant – Arts Council England
2022 – Somerset Art Works Artist Bursary – to create large scale interactive artworks for Somerset Art Weeks Festival.
2021 – ‘Contract of Self Care’ – a-n artist bursary TIME, SPACE, MONEY
2021 – ‘Colour Your Mood’ – commissioned artist – Seed Sedgemoor – Zoom club combating loneliness & isolation through creativity during Lockdown
2020 – ‘NatureSpeaks’ – commissioned artist – Sensory podcast for Somerset Art Works Digital Open Studios Family Education.
2020 – ‘Freedom Learning Project’ – commissioned artist - Family wellbeing through nature, and plant medicine online booklet. Somerset Art Works Development Programme https://somersetartworks.org.uk/somersetreacquainted/luminara-star-florescu/
2019 – Awardee of The Ganes Trust grant for artists.
2018 – ‘Creative Pathways Bursary‘ – SAW (Somerset Art Works)
Exhibitions & Residencies
2023 - Artist in Residence - Somerset Film, The Engine Room, Bridgwater, Somerset.
2021 – ‘Artist Prison Residencies’ – Co-curator and contributing artist – Shepton Mallet Prison, Somerset https://prisonresidencies.wixsite.com/shepton
2021 – ‘Tarot for Covid’ – Restrictions exhibition, Clayhill Arts Somerset
2020 – ‘Portal’ – Contributing artist – Fourthland www.fourthland.com
2020 – Virtual ‘Happenings’ – Curator and contributing artist of group exhibition for Virtual Fringe Arts Bath Festival2020 https://www.fringeartsbath.co.uk/happenings
2019 – ‘B-Wing‘ – Co-curator/project manager/public engagement leader & contributing artist of group exhibition/event at Shepton Mallet Prison. Supported by ‘Lottery Funding from Arts Council England’. https://b-wing.weebly.com
2019 – ‘Mothership’ Artist Residency, Dorset.
2019 – ‘Love is Blind’ – City of Secrets exhibition, Liberty House, Bristol
2018 – ‘Hare Woman (Julian Cox)’ – Made In Bruton/Ape and Eden Art and Book
Launch in collaboration with author and historian Andrew Pickering.
2018 – ‘Fetus Totem (Green)‘ – Bruton Art Society Exhibition 65th Annual show Bruton, Somerset.
2018 – ‘Fetus Totem’ – Arts Open Exhibition, Town Hall Arts Trowbridge, Wiltshire.
2018 – ‘Creative Pathways Bursary‘ – SAW (Somerset Art Works)
2018 – ‘Domestic Bliss’ – HONESTY SHOP part of the ‘The Land We Live – The Land We Left Behind’ Exhibition – Hauser and Wirth Gallery, Somerset.
2017 – ‘Connection‘ – The Brooklyn Art Library’s SKETCH BOOK 2018 project.
2017 – ‘The Digital Flower Garden‘ – Bath 2017 Digital Art Festival.
2017 – ‘The Finality Of Your Decision’ – Summer Exhibition, Bruton Art Factory, Somerset.
Curated Projects
2022 -Outside In - Group exhibition & events at Shepton Mallet Prison, Somerset - Curator & Artist. Supported by OPEN Mental Health Community Grant.
2022 – ‘Artist Prison Residencies (Online) programme’ – Co-originator & falicitator
2021 – ‘Creative Wellbeing Through Sensory Herbalism’ – Course Leader, HEARTHSTONE Ways, SS&L Funded.
2020 – ‘Open Circles’ – project creator/lead – Wellbeing, Mindfulness and Creative Development Public Engagement project funded by SS&L
CAREER BREAK TO RAISE FAMILY AND RUN COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS.
2007 – One Year Artist residency – Those People Productions, Cardiff, South Wales.
2005 – ‘Penny Collectors‘ short film script award production grant by Welsh Film Council.
2004 – Work featured in AN Magazine
2003 – ‘Mother‘ – Chapter Gallery, ‘Experimentica’ exhibition, Cardiff, South Wales.
2002 – ‘Home Town‘ – chosen by the British Arts Council to represents emerging British Artist in Milan, Italy.
2002 – ‘Home Town‘ – Gallery 39, Cardiff, South Wales.
2001 – ‘Noble Offerings‘ Book Art piece became part of the permanent collection at Victoria & Albert Museum, London.
2000 – Curator and exhibiting artist – Domestic Gallery “Here & There” exhibition, London.
2000 – Three months residency at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera, Milan, Italy
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