Marius Ritiu
°1984, Satu Mare, Romania.
Lives and works in Antwerp, Belgium.
He explores nationhood, borders, and nationalism, while reflecting on global responsibility, collective consciousness, and citizenship. Ritiu questions how human differences—often turned into symbols of division—might instead unite us. From space, the Earth shows no borders, inviting us to radically rethink them.
Copper has become central to his work, both materially and philosophically. As a conductor of energy and technology, it connects people, ideas, and places across the globe. Its history, from alchemical symbolism to modern industry, ties humanity to both cosmos and culture. Using Repoussé, a portable and nomadic technique, Ritiu shapes copper wherever he goes, echoing his own traveling and immigrant experience.
Ultimately, his work seeks to express the global through the local, the universal through the particular. The artist sees himself not only as a sculptor but also as a storyteller, creating open-ended narratives that unfold in the imagination of the viewer.
Selected exhibitions:
Solo exhibitions
2024, Objects With Narratives Gallery, Brussels (BE)
2023, Go With the Flood, Slag/RX Gallery, Paris (FR)
2021, Is There Anybody Out There?, DMW Gallery, Antwerp (BE)
2020, Odysseus, Edition Populaire, Antwerp (BE)
2020, The Apocalypse (Sisyphus Part IV), Slag Gallery, New York (US)
2020, Non-Ferrous Appetite, SAC, Bucharest (RO)
2019, The Alley of the Universe, DMW Gallery, Antwerp (BE)
2019, Highway to the Moon (Sisyphus Part III), MOONSTREET Gallery, Antwerp (BE)
2019, Milky Way, Sisyphus Gallery, Antwerp (BE)
2017, The Tale of a Found Dimension, Slag Gallery, New York (US)
2015, Venus Von Hamburg, Open Source Gallery, New York (US)
2014, Eleven Thousandth of a Second Long Ride, Galerie Marion De Cannière, Antwerp (BE)
2013, Eleven Thousandth of a Second Long Ride, project presentation (supported by ARTE TV France), The Clemente, New York (US)
2012, Different Perspective “Contest/Exhibition”, Galerie Marion De Cannière, Antwerp (BE)
2012, DE SOKKEL #3 - Kunstinterventie in het Antwerpse Stadspark, Middelheim Museum, Antwerp (BE)
2012, Magic Carpet, project presentation at Slick Art Fair/Galerie Marion De Cannière, Brussels (BE)
2011, Mas(s) Moving, Galerie Marion De Cannière, Antwerp (BE)
2011, Stressing State, Trajector Art Fair/Galerie Marion De Cannière, Brussels (BE)
2010, How to Become Famous in One Month, Galerie Marion De Cannière, Antwerp (BE)
Group exhibitions
2025, Ontomateria, Verduyn Gallery, Moregem (BE)
2025, Convergent Lines, Objects With Narratives Gallery, Geneva (CH)
2025, De Rampe, Kwaremont (BE)
2025, Made in Belgium, Objects With Narratives Gallery, Brussels (BE)
2025, Objects With Narratives Gallery, Brafa Art Fair, Brussels (BE)
2025, Er Was Eens, Exporuimte De Halle, Geel (BE)
2024, Beaufort Triennial, Oostende (BE)
2023, Burcht Malpertuus, CC Sint Niklaas, Sint Niklaas (BE)
2023, Vol-Ledig, Ysebaert Gallery, Sint Martens Latem (BE)
2023, Amare, Damme (BE)
2022, Finis Terrae, Antwerp (BE)
2022, Stealing Thunder, Barbe Urbain Gallery, Ghent (BE)
2022, Making Fun, De Warande, Turnhout (BE)
2022, The Most Sunny Hour of Your Night, TI-Pi Art Space, Ghent (BE)
2022, Stormloop, Herentals (BE)
2021, Return to Sender (Sisyphus Part VI), Franconia Sculpture Park, Minneapolis (US)
2021, Scapes, Slag Gallery, New York (US)
2021, Orangerie, Het Paviljoen, Ghent (BE)
2021, Circus Gambit, Circus Studios, Antwerp (BE)
2021, I Am a Glitch in the System (Sisyphus Part V), Ballroom Projects, Antwerp (BE)
2021, Superstudio, Antwerp (BE)
2021, Ernest Albert Prize, Mechelen (BE)
2021, Pacificaciestraat 13, Antwerp (BE)
2019, The Socrates Annual, Socrates Sculpture Park, New York (US)
2019, Deep Time, WARP Contemporary Art Platform, Sint Niklaas (BE)
2018, Festival des 5 saisons, Chaudefontaine (BE)
2018, P(ART)cours / Par(KUNST) Biennial, Brussels (BE)
2017, Verbeke Foundation, Kemzeke (BE)
2017, Independent Brussels, Slag Gallery, Brussels (BE)
2016, Volta Basel, Slag Gallery, Basel (CH)
2016, What are we building down there?, Bucharest Biennale 7 (RO)
2016, Ringland: A city is not a road, Bernaerts Auction House, Antwerp (BE)
2016, Tamango, National Museum of Contemporary Art, Bucharest (RO)
2015, Art Contest, De Markten, Brussels (BE)
2015, cutlog Paris, artists recommended by ARTE France, Paris (FR)
2015, Closer/ Dichterbij Festival, Zuiderpershuis, Antwerp (BE)
2015, 120 Minutes, curated by Frank Koolen & Lieven Segers, Art Brussels (BE)
2015, A Belgian Politician, Marion De Cannière Art Space, Antwerp (BE)
2014, Noli me tangere, Verbeke Foundation, Kemzeke (BE)
2014, The Patron of the Travellers, BORG Biennial, Antwerp (BE)
2014, Public Intimacy, Art Brussels/Galerie Marion De Cannière, Brussels (BE)
2014, Park + Ride, Verbeke Foundation, Kemzeke (BE)
2013, Reframe Festival, TAC, Eindhoven (NL)
2013, P.R.E.S.T.I.G.E., Plateau ROZIER, Ghent (BE)
2012, Sideways Festival, Turnhout (BE)
2012, Tweespoor, De Warande, Turnhout (BE)
2012, Twelve Thousandth Three Hundred Forty-Five, Verbeke Foundation, Kemzeke (BE)
2011, The Tiberius Principle (Exit 2011 – Entrée 2012), Middelheim Museum, Antwerp (BE)
2011, cutlog Art Fair/Galerie Marion De Cannière, Bourse du Commerce, Paris (FR)
2011, Photocollages, Verbeke Foundation, Kemzeke (BE)
2010/2011, Certified Copy, Verbeke Foundation, Kemzeke (BE)
2010/2011, Trou de ville, Verbeke Foundation, Kemzeke (BE)