Born in 1974 in Cluj, Romania, Man went on to study at the Academia de Arte Plastice in Cluj and then in Jerusalem. On returning to Romania, he became associated with a group of painters referred to as the Cluj School, with the work of these artists exploring the uncertainty of life after the fall of communism.
Man once said, ‘I would like to stay in a place of shadows,’ with this sentiment running throughout his artwork — his paintings often evoke a sense of eeriness, showcasing a version of life that is recognisable yet otherworldly. The artist typically uses a muted palette of greens, blues and greys, with dramatic lighting to create an atmosphere in his pieces that appears almost mythic and sometimes unnerving in nature.
His influences are varied, taking references from literature and art history to explore themes of memory, morality, identity and the uncanny. Man’s work Weltinnenraum (2017) is part of a group of artworks inspired by the first and second of the Duino Elegies, a cycle of poems by Rainer Maria Rilke published in 1923.
The artist began one of his best-known series of works, The Chandler, in 2013. In each painting within this series, Man depicts a seated figure holding their own head in their lap. His work often blurs boundaries, with some pieces depicting the transition from man to animal — one of the works from the The Chandler series shows a woman who appears to be growing a pair of horns, with this piece sold by Christie’s in 2025 for £705,600.
Man's introduction to the world stage came in 2007, when he represented Romania at the Venice Biennale. He went on to be named Deutsche Bank Artist of the Year in 2014, and his work is held in public collections such as the Tate, Centre Pompidou and MUDAM Luxembourg.
VICTOR MAN (B. 1974)
Rabbit's Moon (After K.A.)
VICTOR MAN (B. 1974)
The Chandler
VICTOR MAN (B. 1974)
D with Raven
VICTOR MAN (B. 1974)
Grand Practice
VICTOR MAN (B. 1974)
Shaman
Victor Man (Né en 1974)
Sans titre
VICTOR MAN (B. 1974)
Minutes