Balog Ștefan (also known as Balog István) was born in 1968 in Aiud, Transylvania. He is a versatile visual artist – painter, graphic artist, sculptor, and writer – whose impact is felt not only through his works but also through his cultural and organizational contributions both locally and internationally. He studied at the Bethlen Gábor High School in Aiud and later trained at various art institutions in Romania and abroad, including in Bucharest and Timișoara.

His art is experimental and employs a wide range of techniques: painting, linocut, aquatint, collage, and both small- and large-scale sculpture. His style is marked by abstract, expressive, and often conceptual elements. His works have been exhibited in over 30 countries, including Japan, the United States, Egypt, India, and at the European Parliament. He has held more than 40 solo exhibitions and regularly participates in international art camps, cartoon salons, and mail art projects.

In 1996, he founded the Inter-Art Foundation, which organizes international art programs, festivals, and exhibitions in Aiud, helping to establish the city as the “City of Arts.” As a cultural ambassador, Balog Ștefan plays a key role in building international artistic connections. He is also the author of several prose volumes.

Balog Ștefan’s artistic activity and civic engagement are exemplary: he not only creates art but also builds bridges between art and community, and between local and global cultures.