He has exhibited in Paris, Dubai, Prague, and now his name appears in the campaign ‘100 Youngsters for Romania's Development’, initiated by the Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania – this is the story of Dragoș Dobocan, who at the age of 12 became a figure recognised by UNESCO.
It all started at kindergarten, at the age of 5, in the ‘Mânuțe Fermecate’ (Enchanted Hands) workshop, where, under the guidance of teacher Alina Delia Pocian, Dragoș created his first painting, ‘Seascape’. The following years found him still with a paintbrush in his hand, perfecting his style at the ‘Francisc Hubic’ School of Arts in Oradea with teacher Florence Sabău, but also at the ‘Marina Căpățînă’ Academy of Arts in Bucharest. At only 6 years old, he participated in his first exhibition, and from there, the road was always uphill.
In October 2024, Dragoș became the youngest artist to exhibit at the International Contemporary Art Salon in Paris, at the famous Le Carrousel du Louvre. His collection, ‘In the Footsteps of French Artists,’ comprised 32 works and was so well received that he was invited to exhibit at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. This was followed by the Dubai Art Expo in December 2024, where he presented his series ‘Innocence in Colours’. His 12 works impressed the jury and the public with the delicacy with which he rendered nature and animals, as well as the depth of his messages. In April 2025, Dragoș returned to UNESCO, this time for the ‘Arts et traditions du Monde’ event. Here he presented 50 works in acrylic, his favourite technique, once again being the only child among established artists. His paintings were not only admired but also appreciated for their mature style and sensitivity to detail.
Dragoș is no stranger to competitions: at the age of 7, he won his first international prize, first place in the UNESCO competition ‘Dessine-moi ton rêve de paix’ (Draw me your dream of peace). Since then, his collection of diplomas and trophies has grown steadily, as has his artistic recognition, both in Romania and abroad. He has had five solo exhibitions in Romania and seven international exhibitions in cities such as Paris, Prague, Padova and Dubai.
Dragoș remains a diligent student – he is in the fifth grade at Dacia Secondary School in Oradea and frequently participates in school competitions, where he achieves excellent results. Dragoș dreams of a future where art remains at the centre of his universe – perhaps through architecture or fashion design. He enjoys exploring, travelling and learning new things. He is a curious and ambitious child who already knows what he wants from life: to create.
In everything he does, Dragoș carries his country in his heart. He says he is proud to be Romanian and that Romania means tradition, culture and creativity to him. Through his art, he wants to show the world the beauty of our country, but above all the potential of his generation.
