Collector’s Portrait - Iustinian Sandu

For readers familiar with the Romanian art market, the name Iustinian Sandu often appears in connection with a type of collecting built not only on aesthetic criteria but also on authentic relationships with artists.

Passionate about painting since his youth and formed within a family environment where art was present, his path as a collector has been consolidated over time through decisive encounters with artists and through his direct involvement in organizing the creative camps in Sinaia. His collection reflects this personal dimension of the relationship with art, in which the works become traces of friendships, of creative contexts, and of a visual sensitivity cultivated over the years. In the dialogue below, Iustinian Sandu speaks about his first encounters with art, the role of intuition in the acquisition process, and the way a collection gradually becomes a form of cultural memory.

WIN Gallery: For many collectors, the relationship with art often begins even before the idea of acquisition, in a moment of recognition or visual curiosity. Do you remember the first artwork that truly captured your attention?

Iustinian Sandu: On the occasion of my first visit to my friend Victor Adam, a long-time collector and the father of the painter Sorin Adam, among the multitude of artworks, one particularly fascinated me: a still life of a sensitivity and beauty worthy of a story. I asked about its author, which was how I discovered the great lady of contemporary Romanian painting – Marinela Măntescu. I later sent Mrs. Măntescu an invitation to the painting camp organized by me in Sinaia, an invitation she kindly honored, and this became the occasion for the beginning of a sincere friendship. Dozens of creative camps followed, where Mrs. Măntescu felt wonderful, calling it her “second home.” Here dozens of works were created, some of which she gifted to me with great generosity. Even now, every time I have the chance to see again the work from Mr. Adam’s collection, I feel the same emotions of love at first sight.
Of course, I was also fortunate to have parents who loved art. At the age of 10, I accompanied them to Sinaia, to the opening of the painter Nicolae Eugeniul Petrescu Pache, a painter in vogue from Ploiești and a family friend, on which occasion my father purchased two works.
That was when my love for painting was born!

Marinela Măntescu-Isac – Reflection, 2026

WIN Gallery: As time passes, visual taste can refine itself, and the initial motivations may change or gain nuance. How would you describe your relationship with art today, compared to the moment when you began collecting?

Iustinian Sandu: At the beginning I was fascinated by the classics! I followed them at the auctions of the Alice auction house, sometimes even making acquisitions. Later I managed, on the occasion of organizing the creative camps in Sinaia, to meet contemporary painters to whom I feel great admiration and friendship. From that moment, the classics moved to a so-called secondary place, and I began collecting works that also had a story connected to my friendship with the artist!

WIN Gallery: The acquisition process often oscillates between an intuitive reaction and a decision built over time. What role does the intuition play in your decision to acquire an artwork?

Iustinian Sandu: When acquiring a piece of art, I am guided by the “eternal hunger” for beauty.
Aesthetic satisfaction creates in me an infinite joy!

WIN Gallery: In front of a work, some collectors speak about the immediate visual impact, others about the story that gradually reveals itself. Is the story behind the work more important to you, or its immediate visual impact?

Iustinian Sandu: Both the visual impact and the story behind the work have their role in equal measure.

WIN Gallery: Even in very diverse collections, recurrences sometimes appear that reveal a constant affinity. Is there an artist or a type of artistic expression to which you constantly return?

Iustinian Sandu: Two good friends and great masters have enchanted me with their works:
Marinela Măntescu and Mihai Sârbulescu.

WIN Gallery: For many collectors, art does not remain in an abstract sphere but enters dialogue with everyday space. How do artworks integrate into your living or working space?

Iustinian Sandu: They harmonize perfectly with the architecture of the house and the furniture, becoming a unified whole that creates a spectacular atmosphere!

WIN Gallery: There are works that do not exhaust themselves at first sight and that continue to act over time upon the viewer. Have you ever felt that an artwork changed the way you look at a subject or a theme?

Iustinian Sandu: True art is a continuous dialogue, not a simple viewing. It teaches us how to look, it does not tell us what to think.

marinela-mantescu-isac-orhidee-la-fereastra

Marinela Măntescu-Isac – Orchid at the window, 2023

WIN Gallery: Beyond the personal dimension, collecting can also be seen as a form of cultural engagement. In your opinion, what is the role of a collector in the contemporary artistic ecosystem?

Iustinian Sandu: To support artists. To group works that can be studied together, acting as a guardian of visual memory.

WIN Gallery: For some collectors, the relationship with the gallery or the curator becomes an integral part of the acquisition experience. How important is the relationship with the gallery or the curator in the acquisition process for you?

Iustinian Sandu: The art gallery is the bridge between the artist and the collector. With the help of the curator a symbiosis is created that contributes to the acquisition of works.

WIN Gallery: Not all artworks are comfortable from the beginning, and some require time and openness. Have you ever acquired an artwork that initially challenged you or even made you uncomfortable?

Iustinian Sandu: Yes! Here one can notice the ability to make the difference between an aesthetic “I like it” and an “it is valuable” from an artistic point of view!

Marinela Măntescu-Isac – Composition II, 2008

WIN Gallery: Even when an acquisition begins as an emotional motivation, the discussion about value inevitably appears. How do you see the balance between the aesthetic value and the investment value of an artwork?

Iustinian Sandu: It depends both on artistic education and on material possibilities! When you choose with your soul you cannot think pecuniarily, but no matter how great the desire may be, I must admit that a little moderation does no harm.

WIN Gallery: Contemporary art often functions as a barometer of current concerns. Is there a theme or a problem of the present that particularly attracts you in contemporary art?

Iustinian Sandu: I have noticed with regret that recently the “ugly” has begun to be promoted in art!

WIN Gallery: The gaze of others can activate new meanings, even for works that are already familiar. How do people around you react when they encounter your collection?

Iustinian Sandu: The opinions of others do not dictate what I should acquire, but they clarify how much I can still learn from a work that I already own.

WIN Gallery: Experience accumulated over time often turns into a form of implicit knowledge. What would you say to someone at the beginning of their journey who wishes to build an authentic relationship with art?

Iustinian Sandu: It is a wonderful choice that will create infinite satisfaction! At the beginning arm yourself with patience, try to study, visit museums, galleries, studios. Investment in art is immortal!

Marinela Măntescu-Isac – Flowers and quinces, 2022