Maria Teodorescu

Vitri

Glass painter

©Daina Jula

A modern celebration of the Transylvanian village

Maria learnt to paint on glass in childhood, from a local master
Her main inspiration is the Transylvanian village
Her craft involves painting on the reverse-side of glass

Maria Teodorescu learnt her craft in childhood, in her grandparents' village. She was mentored by Maria Deac Poenariu, a renowned glass icon painter and descendant of a family that established one of Transylvania’s most famous glass painting schools. Maria later pursued Sacred Arts at the Faculty of Theology, where she deepened her knowledge of Transylvanian glass painting and earned a master’s degree. In 2018, Maria opened her workshop in a historic building in Cluj-Napoca. As her work grew, she moved to a larger, brighter studio, still in the city centre. "The first piece I ever created was a reverse-painted glass icon featuring two angels—a work I hold especially dear and am fortunate to still have," she says. Today, at her Vitri workshop, Maria continues to craft colourful decorative glass pieces inspired by the Transylvanian villages, blending both innovation and tradition in her creative process.

Interview

©Daina Jula

©Daina Jula

What are your specialisations and the techniques you use?: The most distinctive technique I use, deeply connected to my craft, is reverse painting on glass. It is an essential element of painting icons on glass from Transylvania. In addition to glass painting, I have specialised in the Tiffany technique, which is about adding metal frames to my paintings and creating decorative stained-glass pieces for my collections.
In what way is your craft linked to Romania?: My craft has a strong connection to my region. Icons on glass and glass painting have a deep-rooted tradition in Transylvania. This tradition began sometime in the 18th century, when an icon allegedly wept, being considered a miracle maker. Ever since, every family wants to have a glass icon in their home, allowing this craft to flourish.
How do you express tradition and innovation in your work?: I strive to combine both across all my work. While reverse painting on glass is always part of the tradition, I reinterpret my painting themes to bring them into the present and offer a fresh perspective. I also experiment with techniques to introduce new approaches to the craft. For example, last year, I created a collection of glass icons with metal frames, instead of the traditional wooden ones.
Is there something about your craft that tends to surprise people?: What I see most people thinking about my work is that it is a relaxing way to make a living—but in fact it is not the case. They do not see the hard work, the emotions, the failures. But I suppose if they did, the craft might lose some of its magic.

Maria Teodorescu is a master artisan: she began her career in 1991 and she started teaching in 2018