Aurel Cojan

Aurel Cojan (March 3, 1914, Beceni, Buzau, - December, 2005, Paris) was a renowned Romanian painter and decorative artist.


Between 1932-1934 he attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Bucharest, where he studied under Francisc Sirato and Camil Ressu. Between 1933-1944 he exhibited at the Official Salons, and from 1944 to 1969 at State and Regional Exhibitions. Cojan's first personal exhibition was in 1945, at Hasefer Hall in Bucharest, followed by the exhibitions in 1946 and 1947 at the Romanian Athenaeum and in 1956, 1964 at the Plastic Fund Gallery in Bucharest. He exposed abroad in Prague (1962), Warsaw (1964), in Havana (1966), at the Sao Paolo Biennale (1967).


In 1969 he left the country and never returned to Romania, living in Paris.


Since 1971 he exhibited in France at Comparaisons, Realites Nouvelles, Salons of Villeparisis, Musee de Clermont-Ferrand and various other artistic events, such as Adam Gallery (Paris, 1974), Galleries Chevalier, Raph, Jacques Barbier, Francois Mitaine (Paris, 1978). His most recent solo exhibition were at Alain Margaron Gallery (Paris 1998, 1999), Counterpoint Gallery (Bucharest, 1999), Romanian Cultural Center in Paris (1999), Counterpoint Gallery (Bucharest, 2002). Aurel Cojan has permanent exhibitions at Alain Margaron Gallery in Paris and at Counterpoint Gallery in Bucharest.


In 1966 he was awarded the Prize for painting of the Romanian Artists Union. In 1983 he received the title of Knight of Arts and Letters from the Ministry of Culture of France, recognizing its artistic merits in his adopted homeland. In 1996 he received the prize "Thalens" of the parisian Beaux-Arts Magazine. In 2004, commemorating 90 years of age he was decorated by the President of Romania with the Order of Cultural Merit as Grand Officer and by the Ministry of Culture with the Excellence Award.