Meet the artist…

Roland Pierre Trandafir has been painting professionally for half a century. His portraits are proudly exhibited in private collections throughout the world.

For the artist, capturing consciousness in people and animals in his paintings is the most challenging and most rewarding aspect of his work, especially when the client sheds a tear when first seeing the work.

The painter was born in Paris in the Montmartre part of the city. Early childhood was in Beaumont Sur Oise, just northwest of Paris where he played in the very poppy fields made famous by the early impressionists.

While still an infant, mother, father and baby sister immigrated to New York City, and eventually settled in New Jersey.

At the age of six, Roland began his painting studies at the side of his father’s easel. As he matured, he was quick to understand the techniques necessary to render flesh tones with luminosity and vibrancy, in order to create power and life.

The artist graduated from Rutgers University with a BFA in fine arts, and a B.Sc. in biology with a minor in chemistry. He then enrolled in the MFA program at Rutgers Mason Gross School of Fine Arts.

Under the encouragement and guidance of his teacher and mentor Leon Golub, for whom he also served as teaching assistant, Roland perfected his style of realism.