Golesh, 1941 – Sofia, 2010
Born in the village of Golesh, near Silistra. He studied decorative and monumental painting at the National Academy of Arts under Nikola Gelov and Vasil Stoilov, graduating in 1971. That same year he was appointed curator of Dobrich Art Gallery, where he served as director (1975–1982). Primarily a figurative painter, he focused on portraiture, landscape, and still life. His early compositions show influences from French art, particularly Picasso’s early work and Modigliani’s portraits. Later, he turned to Expressionism, especially in landscapes marked by gestural brushwork, abstraction, stylization, and vibrant color. Toward the end of his life, his style became more minimal, emphasizing broad, clean surfaces, imbued with lyrical sensibility. His first solo exhibition, ‟Painting – Small Scale,” in Sofia (1982) won an award from the Union of Bulgarian Artists. He later presented solo shows in Silistra, Dobrich, and elsewhere. In 2002, he held a large retrospective at Dobrich Art Gallery. He also participated in many group exhibitions. His works are in the National Gallery of Bulgaria, Sofia City Gallery, museums, and private collections at home and abroad. After his death, in 2021, another exhibition was organized in Gurkovo, presenting 13 large works from the Dobrich Gallery collection.