Rafaela Barbu is a multidisciplinary metal sculptor whose practice is defined by the tension between two distinct approaches to sculpture: small figurative welded works and large, forged multimedia sculptures. In each of these domains, Rafaela seeks to challenge the boundaries of materiality, form, and space, creating works that speak to both the human experience and the broader cultural contexts in which they exist. At the heart of Rafaela’s practice is an exploration of contrast between the human body and the industrial materials of metal, and between stillness and motion. Through this duality, Rafaela invites viewers to reflect on the intersection of personal experience and collective identity. Each work serves as both a moment of personal introspection and a broader commentary on the shared human condition, underscored by the physicality of the materials and the spaces they inhabit.
