Veliko Tarnovo, 1959
He studied Graphic Arts and Printmaking at the Fine Arts School of St. Cyril and Methodius University in Veliko Tarnovo under Ivan Marinov, graduating in 1983. In 1985 he became a member of the Union of Artists of Veliko Tarnovo, and in 1989 he joined the Union of Bulgarian Artists. In 1986 he was elected Lecturer in Theory and Methodology of Painting Activity at the Pedagogical School of Veliko Tarnovo University. In 1990 he pursued postgraduate studies in Fine Arts Methodology at the Institute of Applied Arts in Lviv (Ukraine). He earned a PhD in Pedagogical Studies in 2006 and in 2007 became full professor in Art Methodology. Between 2007 and 2015 he served as Rector of St. Cyril and Methodius University, Veliko Tarnovo. Alongside his artistic practice, he has published extensively on art pedagogy, particularly in early childhood education, including the monograph ‟The Child and the Artwork” (Veliko Tarnovo University Press, 1996). As a painter and printmaker, he works in a figurative idiom. His subjects include landscapes, imaginary cities, still lifes with elaborate ceramics, fish, and fantastical creatures such as dragons. His sources of inspiration range widely: surrealism and Paul Klee, medieval and Byzantine art, Islamic miniature, and Sino-Japanese traditions. Nevertheless, his work is distinguished by originality and imagination, constructing personal, magical worlds. His draftsmanship is meticulous, while his bright, unusual colors evoke the spirit of children’s drawings. His prints often reflect the same sensibility, though many are in black and white. His first solo exhibition was held at the Artists’ Club Hall in Veliko Tarnovo in 1986. Since then, he has exhibited widely in Bulgaria and abroad (France, Austria, Germany, Serbia, China, among others). His most recent solo show, ‟Visions, Dreams and Myths: Whispers from the Depths”, was presented in 2025 at Vazrazhdane Gallery, Plovdiv. He has also participated in numerous group exhibitions internationally. In 1990 he co-founded ‟Spectrum”, the first private gallery in Veliko Tarnovo. He has received many awards for his artistic, pedagogical, and scholarly work, including the Gold Medal for “Combination of Decorative Methods in Painting” (Sofia, 1998) and the Painting Award of the Municipality of Veliko Tarnovo (2005). In 2024 he was also honored with the ‟Golden Hyperpyron of Tsar Ivan Asen II”, awarded by the Municipality of Veliko Tarnovo.