Nicu Popescu is a generative artist working with code, interactive media, and built systems. He uses algorithms — p5.js, GLSL, SuperCollider, cellular automata, reaction–diffusion — to shape images, behaviors, and responsive spaces where bodies and computation meet. His work focuses on perception and the ways digital processes become light, motion, and form.
He builds installations, full-dome pieces, and live-coded performances using custom hardware, DIY electronics, and hand-made structures. His projects mix mathematical structure with improvisation, noise, error, and iteration, pushing digital processes until they become their own visual language.
Selected Exhibitions & Installations
- July 2025 – Theatre in the Mill, University of Bradford, UK – Live performance exploring the dynamics between artistic intent and audience perception through real-time code manipulation, combining sound, projection, and generative visuals. Work developed during a 3-month artist development programme.
- May 16, 2025 – FullDome Festival, Jena, Germany, “ASTR1V0X“: With the foundation Herbert W. Franke. Foundation board member Susanne Paech presents a best of the 149 “Contact Attempt” works.
- Nov 4-24 2024 – Bilbao, Spain, showing three generative works at Bideotikan International Digital Art Festival – projecting the works of 15 local and international artists on screens located in iconic places around the city.
- Nov 16, 2024 – Hamburg Planetarium, Germany, “ASTR1V0X” projected in full dome format during “CONTACT ATTEMPT”, an event organized by the Foundation Herbert W. Franke, celebrating 50 years from the Arecibo Message.
- Nov 18, 2024 – Bochum Planetarium, Germany, “ASTR1V0X” presented in full dome format during “CONTACT ATTEMPT”, an event organized by the Foundation Herbert W. Franke.
- Oct 4-6 2024 – “SOLITON” interactive installation art at Radar New Media Art & Technology International Festival, Bucharest
- Oct 1-31 2024 – “Uphill” was part of the “DEFORM AND RE-FORM” exhibition at the Helsinki Central Library Oodi. The exhibition, organized by Alusta (a Finnish National Gallery platform)
- Jul 2024 Valencia, Spain – “Otra Playa” showcased at the CONTINUUM exhibit in homage to Spanish master Joaquín Sorolla during the GM Valencia! event
- Jun 2024 Bucharest, at the HR Summit event during Bucharest Tech Week, “Flower Code” – interactive installation art & group exhibition -> event showreel
- May 2024 The Hague at the “Noncompliance” exhibition curated by Patrick Amadon – 47 artists exhibited protest work in solidarity with the Hong Kong 47 and the pro-democracy movement
- May 2024 Bucharest at NFTBucharest, “Skully” – Interactive [generative] installation art using p5js, Arduino, webcam and a video projector -> event showreel
- May 2024 Bucharest at NFTBucharest, “Brøken Glow”
- Apr 2024 New York at NFTNYC – Artists Village, “Voyage Within”
- Apr 2024 Tallinn at BananaConf – “Revolt at the Animal Farm“
- Mar 2024 Toronto at Goat Gallery in the Block by Block pixel art show – “Brancusi” and “Ain’t got much time”
- Feb 2024 Paris at NFTParis – “Revolt at the Animal Farm”
- Nov 2023 Palace of the Parliament, Bucharest during ARIR Gala, “Remedia”
- Oct – Nov 2023 “Next Day” displayed at imnotArt Gallery Chicago & the Metaverse CG Museum
- August 2023 404 Art Catalog by Patrick Amadon. “Zen in the tempest“
- May 2023 NFT Bucharest @ Cluj. “Sara Pe Deal”
- Oct 2010 Bucharest, “HAI Chair” – 3rd place in the “3D Dependent De Design” competition organized by ELLE Decoration.
Publications
- 2025 – Algorithmic Archaeology of Folk Motifs: Nature, Code, and Cultural Memory. In: Proceedings of the Algorithmic Pattern Conference in the Creative Arts (ALPACA 2025). DOI:10.5281/zenodo.17084384
Talks & Public Engagements
- 2025 – Watch-party presentation of “Algorithmic Archaeology of Folk Motifs” at UDK Berlin during ALPACA, including live reaction-diffusion demos and an interactive RD organism running on Raspberry Pi.