Romanian Recently Discovered Pop Art Genius Meets Angelina Jolie In Paris

The Hollywood actress, who is in Paris to shoot „The Tourist”, a remake of 2005 French film „Anthony Zimmer”, talked with Barladeanu for about two hours and said she was impressed with his work and life story.

Barladeanu, 63, homeless during the communist regime, left his village at the age of 20 and took several menial jobs in different parts of the country. He eventually came to capital Bucharest where he worked first as a grave digger, guard and then unqualified worker.

After 1989, when Romania had Ceausescu overthrown and freed itself from communist rule, Barladeanu lived on the streets and collected garbage.

Barladeanu’s interest in art dates back to 1960 when he first had the idea to use scraps and discarded magazines to create collages revolving around the communist reality and focusing on the image of the Romanian dictatorial couple.

His work was discovered two years ago by Romanian curator Dan Popescu who exhibited his collages at the H’Art Bucharest gallery. Later, Romanian director Alexander Nanau made a documentary film presenting Barladeanu’s amazing life journey, and the film was broadcast on HBO Romania.

Barladeanu’s collages are considered masterpieces of the pop art culture and are deemed as significant as Marcel Duchamp’s or Andy Warhol’s works.

Barladeanu’s art collection was also exhibited at Fred Gallery in London and his collection was highly praised by art critics.