The article reports on the fourth edition of Romanian Art Dealers (RAD), an art fair in Bucharest that exclusively features Romanian galleries and artists. The author, Sammy Loren, travels from Los Angeles to experience the fair, which is co-founded by dealer Catinca Tabacaru and artist-dealer Daniela Pălimariu. The fair includes 31 booths, a Curatorial Summit with 35 international curators, and a central installation titled "Donate a Word" (2025) by Romanian artist Victoria Zidaru. The author attends events like the 10-year anniversary party for Sandwich Gallery and notes the intimate, family-like atmosphere of the local art scene.
This matters because RAD offers an alternative to homogenized global art fairs like Frieze or Art Basel, presenting a concentrated view of Romania's contemporary art scene that is often overlooked internationally. The fair's success could position Bucharest—once called "Little Paris of the East"—as a serious player in the global art world, while raising questions about whether local scenes should aspire to global integration or maintain their distinct identity. The article highlights the growing interest in peripheral art markets and the role of dedicated curators, dealers, and collectors in fostering regional art ecosystems.