Ekzarh Yosif, 1955
Born in the village of Ekzarh Yosif, near the city of Ruse. In 1980 he graduated from the St. Cyril and Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo, where he studied painting. Since 1985 he has been a member of the Union of Bulgarian Artists. Today, he lives and works in the small town of Vidin, on the banks of the Danube. He is engaged almost exclusively in painting. Primarily a landscape painter, he draws inspiration both from Expressionism and from folk art (embroidery and carpet weaving). His works are distinguished by their luminous, warm colors, decorative richness, and stylization. In his more recent creations, he has adopted a freer and more abstract manner, with an interest in gesture and anti-realist use of color. He first exhibited his works at Rakovski Gallery 108 in Sofia in 1985. Since then, he has held more than 60 solo exhibitions in Bulgaria and abroad, while also participating in numerous group shows. His most recent exhibition, titled ‟By the River,” was hosted at Arte Gallery (Sofia) in April 2024. He has received numerous awards for his work, including the Painting Prize of the Union of Bulgarian Artists (1994) and the National Painting Award “Zachary Zograf” (2015). His works can be found in the National Art Gallery of Bulgaria, in most of the country’s public galleries, as well as in private collections.