New art and cartography exhibitions open in Bucharest and Iași

Several new art and cartography exhibitions are opening in Romania. In Bucharest, the Map Museum is hosting ‘The Story in the Frame’ from October 2 to November 15, 2026. The exhibition features over 30 cartographic documents from the museum’s collection alongside reproductions from the Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps platform. The showcase focuses on the decorative and informative role of map cartouches, highlighting how they use mythological figures, historical scenes, and political symbols to convey information beyond simple topography.

In Iași, the Union Museum is presenting ‘Gheorghe Ciobanu in Dialogue with Vincent van Gogh’ from October 1 to November 1, 2026. The exhibition creates an imaginary connection between the Romanian naive artist Gheorghe Ciobanu and the post-impressionist master Vincent van Gogh. Ciobanu’s works reinterpret Van Gogh-inspired motifs, such as starry skies and sunflower fields, through his own vibrant and authentic artistic sensibility.