Mihai Criste is a creative Romanian artist fascinated by abstraction, mystery and surrealism. Inspired by famous surrealist artists such as Dalí and Magritte, Criste soon discovered that he needed to go beyond their influences to truly find his own painting style. “My work is influenced by my graphic arts studies at the Art Academy. My senses and seminification work together with my technical knowledge, which allows me to transcend my training towards surreal creations.” Some of his surrealist paintings have religious influences through the use of symbols such as the apple, the tree, the snake, the blood, the candle, etc. When dealing with his favorite themes, nature, time, existence, art, the artist often juxtaposes the metaphysical and the transcendental as a point of contact to convey what he sees as sacred and profane. The elegant composition of his paintings, along with his creative concepts and titles, give his pieces a special touch and him a high degree of distinction. A painting professional for more than 10 years, Mihai has participated in numerous competitions and exhibitions. His works combine several themes in an attempt to confuse the viewer about what reality is.