Daniela Popa

Daniela Popa (1999, Chişinău) is an interdisciplinary artist and concept designer with a focus on social impact and sustainability. Raised in the Republic of Moldova and trained in architecture at the Aachen University of Applied Sciences, she combines spatial thinking with creative and conceptual practice.

Since 2021, she has been working as Lead Product & Concept Designer at the sustainable start-up Recycline. With a deep understanding of material, form and function, she gives recycled plastic new meaning and transforms it into timeless design objects that combine sustainability with emotion. Her goal is to question the way we use plastic and thus contribute to a change in social thinking.

In her work as a designer, she has represented Recycline at local and international events and exhibitions on the topics of resources, consumption and the circular economy. She operates at the intersection of art, architecture and society with the aim of creating cultural and social added value through design.

Daniela Popa is a fellow of the “Focus International” program, which was launched in 2023 in cooperation with the Austrian Federal Ministry for Arts, Culture, the Civil Service and Sport (BMKÖS). The program invites young cultural practitioners from Moldova (2026 – 2028) and South Africa (2025–2027) to Austria to complete two-month internships at selected art institutions in Vienna. The aim is to provide participants with valuable professional experience while also enriching the host institutions through their collaboration and perspectives.

During her residency at the MQ, Daniela Popa will work in the Art and Sustainability Department of the MuseumsQuartier Wien and actively participate in the conception, organisation and implementation of contemporary art and cultural projects. In particular, she will support exhibition and event formats and contribute to the design and coordination of publications and print media.

Her experience in design and architecture brings conceptual clarity, creative sensitivity and a structured approach to development processes. Her ability to analyse complex content and translate it into coherent visual and conceptual ideas strengthens the communication between art, audiences and institutional processes. In addition, she supports research processes, organisational tasks and team coordination, thus making an active contribution to the sustainable cultural work of the MQ.