Everything Would Break, with Jana Opincariu

Today we are speaking with artist Jana Opincariu, who lives in San Pedro. I was introduced to Jana’s work in June of 2020, at her solo exhibition, Meditations in Solidarity, a collection of paintings created during the pandemic at Hellada Gallery in Long Beach. A striking exhibit, it featured works from Jana’s Black Series, her Beautiful Grotesque series and other works — all of which demanded unremitting attention.

Hyper-realistic is just one way to describe this young artist's work. Jana creates images of human bodies, objects and animals that are surreal and fantastical—and some with macabre undertones. 

Jana originally studied to become a medical lab scientist but decided to follow her true passion: art. She graduated with a dual bachelor’s in art history and studio art from University of New Mexico, with a focus on ancient Latin American art and European art through the centuries. Jana works in photography, printmaking and lithography but her passion is painting.  

She finds inspiration from her studies of Spanish and Italian Baroque, her travels, nature, and her dreams.

Jana has shown in multiple cities across the Southwest and the Pacific coast. Her breakout show, Totem, a September 2019 collaboration with internationally known artist, Daniel Kathalynas, at the  Factory on 5th in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Jana’s other recent exhibitions include:
Intro to Black and Gold: A Series in Conversation solo show, Albuquerque Press Club January 2020
Black and Gold I: with TWO separate solo shows, Boxing Bear and Tractory Brewery in Albuquerque February-April 2020
Art in Sensuality 2021: Group Show, Hellada Gallery, Long Beach, February 2021 and 2022
The Harper 420 Golf Invitational Art Exhibition: Group Show, San Pedro, pop up April, 2021