The Artist
Nelus Oana
"I believe that art is a dialogue between the soul and the infinite. Every painting I create is an attempt to capture a fragment of eternity— a moment where colour becomes emotion and texture becomes memory."
1955 — Romania
Roots in the Sunflower Fields
Born in 1958 in the village of Pechea, Romania, into a large family of hardworking beekeepers, Neluș (Nelus) Oană grew up surrounded by fields, orchards and a home grounded in faith. He trained as a dentist and practised medicine for several years, but a growing obsession with painting – and the example of Van Gogh – pushed him to make a radical choice. In December 1987, at the age of 30, married with one child and another on the way, he left Romania, spending 33 days hidden in the hold of a ship bound for the Canary Islands. From Spain he made his way to Melbourne, where he rebuilt his life and slowly became what he had always wanted to be: a painter.
Nelus Oana was born on 7 July 1958 in Pechea, a village in Galați county in eastern Romania. He was the second of six children in the Oană family. His parents, Neculai and Maria, were beekeepers and raised their children in a spirit of hard work, faith and respect. Long days among fields, orchards and animals, along with the religious life of the household, formed a deep connection to nature and to God that would later return in his painting as endless skies, flowers, trees and light.
Artistic Philosophy
Masters & Influences
Vincent van Gogh
John Perceval
Romanian Folk Art
Australian Light
1985 — A New Chapter
Journey to Australia
Seeking artistic freedom beyond the constraints of communist Romania, Nelus made the life-changing decision to emigrate to Australia in 1985. Arriving in Melbourne with little more than his brushes and an unwavering passion for painting, he began a new chapter.
The vast Australian landscapes, dramatic coastlines, and unique Southern light opened new dimensions in his work. The contrast between his Romanian memories and Australian reality became a rich source of creative tension— a dialogue between two worlds expressed through colour and texture.
Signature Style
The Language of Impasto
Central to Nelus’s work is his masterful use of impasto—the technique of applying paint thickly so that brushstrokes and palette knife marks become visible, creating a three-dimensional texture on the canvas surface.
“For me, paint is primordial matter,” Nelus explains. “The thickness of the paint, the way light plays across its ridges and valleys—this is where the painting truly comes alive. Each texture is a conversation with God.”
This approach transforms his paintings into tactile experiences, inviting viewers not just to see but to feel the emotional energy embedded in every stroke.
Recognition
Awards & Exhibitions
Selected Exhibitions
1980 – 1987 Participates in solo and group exhibitions in Romania and Germany.
1987 Settles in Melbourne, Australia. From that moment on, he participates in solo and group exhibitions in Australia, Spain, Germany, U.S.A., and Romania.
2004 Solo exhibition in Karlsruhe, Germany. Organized by Dr. Dana Corina Schmidt.
2004 His works are promoted by Professor Angela Dibello at Agora Gallery in New York.
September 2007 Solo exhibition at the Museum of Visual Arts of Galati, Romania.
February 2008 Solo exhibition at “Tonitza” Galleries in Barlad, Romania.
March 2008 Solo exhibition at “Carpatica” Arts Hall in Cluj, Romania.
September 2008 Solo exhibition at “Artemis” Art Gallery in Targu Mures, Romania.
October 2009 Solo exhibition at the Metropolitan Cultural Centre for Youth in Bucharest, Romania.
November 2010 Solo exhibition at “Constantin Brancusi” Art Galleries in Bucharest, Romania.
2012 – 2019 The Autumn Salon of Romanian Artists from Galati, Romania.
2018 Promoted by Bluethumb Online Gallery, Australia.
2018-2025 Nicolae Mantu Gallery in Galati Romania-participating every single Art Saloon- four shows every year,spring,summer,autumn and winter!
2024 One man show with launching the art album Nelus Oana by Corneliu Stoica at Nicolae Mantu Gallery in Galati, Romania
2025 One man show at National Library in Bucharest, Romania!
He has works in private and public collections in Europe, Canada, Australia, and America.
Today
The Melbourne Studio
Today, Nelus continues to paint daily from his studio in Melbourne, Australia. At 69, his passion for expressionist painting remains undiminished—each new canvas an opportunity to explore the infinite possibilities of colour, texture, and emotion.
His works can be found in private collections across five continents and in galleries from Bucharest to New York. He continues to exhibit regularly and welcomes collectors to visit his studio by appointment.
