Stela Railean
Professionally known as Estela Raileanu
Visual Artist • Animation Director • Researcher • Lecturer
📍 Chișinău, Republic of Moldova
✉️ estelaraileanu@gmail.com
🌐 estelaraileanu.com | loopinacreative.com | loopinapublishing.com
Professional Profile
Stela Railean (professionally known as Estela Raileanu) is a visual artist, animation director, researcher, illustrator, and educator whose interdisciplinary practice connects contemporary art, animation, illustration, and visual storytelling.
She is the founder and Creative Director of Loopina Creative and founder of Loopina Publishing, developing projects in animation, character design, illustration, and children’s media. Her practice explores memory, imagination, visual narratives, and the relationship between traditional artistic approaches and emerging digital media.
She has illustrated over 100 children’s books, participated in international exhibitions and artistic residencies, and developed research focused on animation, comics, and visual storytelling as innovative approaches in education.
She is a Fulbright Scholar and lecturer at the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, Ion Creangă State Pedagogical University of Chișinău.
Academic Positions
Lecturer in Animation & Visual Storytelling
Faculty of Fine Arts and Design
Ion Creangă State Pedagogical University of Chișinău
2023–Present
Teaching areas:
- History of Animation
- Stop-Motion Animation
- Visual Development and Animation Design
- Visual Storytelling
Fulbright Scholar — Faculty Development Program
University of Central Florida, School of Visual Arts and Design, USA
2024–2025
Research focus:
- Animation Education
- Visual Storytelling
- Comics and Visual Learning
- Innovative Learning Environments
Education
PhD in Arts and Education Studies
Ion Creangă State Pedagogical University of Chișinău
2026
Dissertation:
Comics and Animation as Innovative Learning Media
Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Animation Directing
Academy of Music, Theatre and Visual Arts, Moldova
2012–2014
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Graphic Arts / Illustration
Academy of Music, Theatre and Visual Arts, Moldova
2008–2012
Bachelor of Fine Arts — Painting Department
College of Fine Arts “Alexandru Plămădeală”, Moldova
2004–2008
Research Interests
Animation Studies • Animation Education • Comics in Education • Visual Storytelling • Character Design • Contemporary Illustration • Experimental Animation • Media Arts • Creative Technologies
Creative Practice
Founder & Creative Director — Loopina Creative
2017–Present
Animation • Motion Graphics • Illustration • Character Design • Stop-Motion • Educational and Commercial Media
Founder — Loopina Publishing
Children’s Book Illustration • Educational Publishing • Visual Storytelling
Over 100 illustrated children’s books created for international clients and publishers.
Selected Exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions
2022
Insights
Bonard Gallery, Hungary
2015
Sunday with Surprises
“N. Titulescu” Library, Republic of Moldova
2010
Illustrated Stories
“N. Titulescu” Library, Republic of Moldova
2009
Childhood is the Heart of All Ages
“N. Titulescu” Library, Republic of Moldova
2008
Wings of Flight
Eminescu International Center, Republic of Moldova
Finite and Infinite
Moldo-Polish Library, Republic of Moldova
Climbing the Sky
“N. Titulescu” Library, Republic of Moldova
Selected International Exhibitions & Symposia
Ludvig International Symposium — Hungary
RebART Symposium — Austria
Inter-Art International Art Camp — Romania
Biennial of Illustration Bratislava — Slovakia
International Exhibition of Small Prints — USA
Multicultural Identities — United Nations Headquarters, New York, USA
International Residencies & Programs
Ludvig International Symposium, Hungary
2022, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017
Inter-Art International Art Camp, Romania
2021, 2017
RebART Symposium, Austria
2020
Bodio Lomnago Ex Libris Congress, Italy
2016, 2013
EARP Residency Program, Serbia
2014
Publications & Presentations
Academic articles, conference papers, book chapters, invited lectures, workshops, and PhD research contributions focusing on animation, comics, visual storytelling, and education.
Awards & Grants
Fulbright Faculty Development Program
University of Central Florida, USA
Best Original Illustration Award
2012
Golden Moment Honorary Laureate
Andromeda Cultural Association
2011
Sergiu Grossu Special Prize
2008
First Prize — Autumnala Art Competition
2007
Collections
Moldova • Romania • Serbia • Hungary • Austria • Denmark • France • Australia • USA