Velingrad, 1926 – Sofia, 2016
She was born in Velingrad and studied painting at the National Academy of Arts in Sofia under Iliya Petrov, graduating in 1950. In addition to painting, she worked extensively in printmaking and the applied arts, particularly book illustration and stamp design. One of Bulgaria’s most important women painters of the second half of the 20th century, she painted mainly landscapes and still lifes, showing a special interest in floral painting. Her early work was realist, but gradually absorbed influences from Modernism. Expressionist traits, as well as Impressionist and Pointillist characteristics merged into an increasingly abstract approach. Her mature works were marked by a lyrical, idealist tone, often evoking Abstract Expressionism. In her significant work in printmaking she adopted a more austere, geometric conception, emphasizing clarity of form. In 2021, on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of her birth and five years after her death, Arte Gallery (Sofia) organized a retrospective exhibition curated by Gergana Borisova. Works by Vassileva are held in the National Gallery of Bulgaria, the Sofia City Art Gallery, and private collections in Bulgaria and abroad.