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Friday 13 November 2026
09 November 2026 - 15 November 2026
November 2026
18.09.2026 - 22.11.2026
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Memory Programme
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
Exhibitions
28.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
HRISTO SIMEONOV (1935–2020) BETWEEN MATTER AND ANTIMATTER
Hristo Simeonov (1935–2020) belonged to the generation of artists whose creative searches unfolded amidst the evolving visual language of the second half of the 20th century. Within the context of Bulgarian art, this painter stood out for his idiosyncratic creative system—the result of long-standing research in physics, astrology, and cosmology—that existed at the intersection of painting, philosophy, science, and imagination.
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
Exhibitions
27.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
IVAN TOMANOV (1956−2017) - INSPIRATION
The ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund is visiting the National Gallery to present ‘Inspiration’, an exhibition by Karlovo artist Ivan Tomanov (1956–2017). The event is part of the programme marking the 45th anniversary of the Fund’s foundation.
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
Exhibitions
17.09.2026 - 08.11.2026
JAPANESE PRINTS: 18th–20th CENTURIES
The Palace The National Gallery collection – one of the most representative of Japanese prints in Southeast Europe – follows the development of the major movements and graphic techniques over the past two centuries. The works have been acquired in various ways: through purchases, from exhibitions in 1957 and 1963, from the International Print Biennial in Varna (founded in 1981), donations from artists at their exhibitions in Bulgaria between the 1970s and the late 20th century. Of crucial importance was the 1975 Agreement on Cooperation between Bulgaria and Japan, which led to the expansion of the exchange of exhibitions and other cultural initiatives. An event of key importance is the exhibition organised jointly with the Japan Foundation in Sofia fifty years ago.
The current exhibition has been included in the programme of the 37th Days of Japanese Culture in Bulgaria. The earliest presented period is associated with the well-known UKIYO-E woodblock print, occupying a central place in the development of Japanese printmaking during the Edo period (1603–1868). In the early 20th century, two new trends emerged: shin-hanga (‘new prints’) and sōsaku-hanga (‘creative prints’). Although developing practically simultaneously, they were based on a different understanding of the role of the artist and the process of creating a graphic work.
SHIN-HANGA emerged in the early 20th century as an attempt to breathe fresh life into traditional ukiyo-e. The established production model was preserved, where the creation of a print was the result of joint work between the publisher, artist, carver and printer.
SŌSAKU-HANGA established a different principle: the artists alone designed the composition, processed the woodblock and printed the work themself. In their prints, the tradition of Japanese woodcut engraving was combined with the artistic principles of European Modernism.
After the end of the Second World War, Japanese artists gradually revived their international contacts, some of them established ties with China, the USSR, and the countries of Eastern Europe. It was in such a context that one of the early acquisitions was included in the newly established Department of Foreign Art at the National Gallery – In 1957, the Bulgarian state purchased works shown in an exhibition organised by graphic artist Mircho Yakobov at the Union of Bulgarian Artists gallery, at 125, G.S. Rakovski Street in Sofia.
The late 1950s marked a pivotal period where Japanese graphics entered an era of significant technical and artistic diversity. Moving beyond woodcuts, lithography, etching, dry point, mezzotint and various mixed techniques were increasingly used. In the second half of the 20th century, Japanese artists actively took part in international exhibitions and biennales, achieving major recognition on the world graphic scene. This period is extensively represented in the National Gallery collection. Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
The current exhibition has been included in the programme of the 37th Days of Japanese Culture in Bulgaria. The earliest presented period is associated with the well-known UKIYO-E woodblock print, occupying a central place in the development of Japanese printmaking during the Edo period (1603–1868). In the early 20th century, two new trends emerged: shin-hanga (‘new prints’) and sōsaku-hanga (‘creative prints’). Although developing practically simultaneously, they were based on a different understanding of the role of the artist and the process of creating a graphic work.
SHIN-HANGA emerged in the early 20th century as an attempt to breathe fresh life into traditional ukiyo-e. The established production model was preserved, where the creation of a print was the result of joint work between the publisher, artist, carver and printer.
SŌSAKU-HANGA established a different principle: the artists alone designed the composition, processed the woodblock and printed the work themself. In their prints, the tradition of Japanese woodcut engraving was combined with the artistic principles of European Modernism.
After the end of the Second World War, Japanese artists gradually revived their international contacts, some of them established ties with China, the USSR, and the countries of Eastern Europe. It was in such a context that one of the early acquisitions was included in the newly established Department of Foreign Art at the National Gallery – In 1957, the Bulgarian state purchased works shown in an exhibition organised by graphic artist Mircho Yakobov at the Union of Bulgarian Artists gallery, at 125, G.S. Rakovski Street in Sofia.
The late 1950s marked a pivotal period where Japanese graphics entered an era of significant technical and artistic diversity. Moving beyond woodcuts, lithography, etching, dry point, mezzotint and various mixed techniques were increasingly used. In the second half of the 20th century, Japanese artists actively took part in international exhibitions and biennales, achieving major recognition on the world graphic scene. This period is extensively represented in the National Gallery collection. Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Exhibitions
30.10.2026 - 01.11.2026
MARKETING HACKERS CONFERENCE 2026
MHC is Bulgaria’s largest business conference dedicated exclusively to launching and scaling profitable online businesses.
Business Events
23.09.2026 - 18.11.2026
Piano Extravaganza Festival 2026
Within this year’s edition, Piano Extravaganza Festival will present four piano recitals and two chamber music concerts. We hope that our extraordinary artists and the variety of the repertoire for those 6 events would satisfy even the most sophisticated connoisseur. We would be delighted to welcome you at the wonderful venues of the Central Military Club and the “Bulgaria” Chamber Hall in Sofia!
Tickets at EVENTIM.
Tickets at EVENTIM.
Festivals
29.10.2026 - 06.12.2026
Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch. ARCHITECTURE: (THE) POSSIBLE ART
Sofia Arsenal – Museum of Contemporary Art
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Exhibitions
20.10.2026 - 20.10.2027
THE WALL Vol. 7 Nevelin Ivanov I FEEL NOTHING ELSE BUT DISAPPOINTMENT
The 7th edition of “The Wall” presents the work of Nevelin Ivanov "I Feel Nothing Else but Disappointment".
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Exhibitions
16.06.2026 - 16.06.2027
Temporary Exhibition New Acquisitions
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
12.02.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Copper - Ancient and Modern"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
11.04.2025 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Minerals and Colorful Creatures. Drawings by Nature"
The Minerals of Bulgaria exposition has been expanded with a new theme: Unique mineral finds from Bulgaria, a project financed by the Ministry of culture. In 6 display cases, minerals with the most beautiful crystals, rare colors and shapes are exhibited, selected for tens of years by hundreds of geologists and collectors from all over Bulgaria.
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
01.04.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Natural Art from Chalcedony"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
01.01.2023 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Smart Minerals for Smartphones"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
22.10.2026 - 20.11.2026
VERA NEDKOVA – KIRIL TSONEV ENCOUNTERS
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev belonged to the generation of artists who, during the 1930s, changed the face of Bulgarian plastic culture infusing it with a modern European spirit. The profound bond between them represented one of the most significant collegial and creative friendships in Bulgarian art of that period. Surviving memoirs, writings, and documents attest to their outstanding culture and erudition, through
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
Exhibitions
10.12.2025 - 30.01.2027
Zahari Zograph Immersive Exhibition
The National Gallery presents one of the most iconic figures in the history of Bulgarian art – Zahari Zograph. This first immersive exhibition introduces a new way of experiencing the masterpieces of the the museum’s collection. Harnessing new technologies, the 20-minute project, created by Senzor Studio, brings his religious and secular masterpieces to life, revealing essential elements of his creative process.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
Exhibitions
01.11.2026
The Dance in Music
Chamber Hall
Participant/s
Alina Mihaylova
Eda Terzioglu
Vencislava Asenova
Kamen Asenov
Ensembles
Classic Art
Ballet Studio "Julia Romeova"
Participant/s
Alina Mihaylova
Eda Terzioglu
Vencislava Asenova
Kamen Asenov
Ensembles
Classic Art
Ballet Studio "Julia Romeova"
Music and Dance Events
01.11.2026
OFFICIAL CHANGE OF THE GUARD IN FRONT OF THE PRESIDENCY
In front of the Presidency
The ceremonial change of the guard in front of the Presidency marks the national and public holidays in Bulgaria. The officialchange of the guard takes place on the first Wednesday of every month at 12:00 o’clock.
Festivals
18.09.2026 - 22.11.2026
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Memory Programme
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
Exhibitions
28.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
HRISTO SIMEONOV (1935–2020) BETWEEN MATTER AND ANTIMATTER
Hristo Simeonov (1935–2020) belonged to the generation of artists whose creative searches unfolded amidst the evolving visual language of the second half of the 20th century. Within the context of Bulgarian art, this painter stood out for his idiosyncratic creative system—the result of long-standing research in physics, astrology, and cosmology—that existed at the intersection of painting, philosophy, science, and imagination.
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
Exhibitions
27.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
IVAN TOMANOV (1956−2017) - INSPIRATION
The ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund is visiting the National Gallery to present ‘Inspiration’, an exhibition by Karlovo artist Ivan Tomanov (1956–2017). The event is part of the programme marking the 45th anniversary of the Fund’s foundation.
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
Exhibitions
17.09.2026 - 08.11.2026
JAPANESE PRINTS: 18th–20th CENTURIES
The Palace The National Gallery collection – one of the most representative of Japanese prints in Southeast Europe – follows the development of the major movements and graphic techniques over the past two centuries. The works have been acquired in various ways: through purchases, from exhibitions in 1957 and 1963, from the International Print Biennial in Varna (founded in 1981), donations from artists at their exhibitions in Bulgaria between the 1970s and the late 20th century. Of crucial importance was the 1975 Agreement on Cooperation between Bulgaria and Japan, which led to the expansion of the exchange of exhibitions and other cultural initiatives. An event of key importance is the exhibition organised jointly with the Japan Foundation in Sofia fifty years ago.
The current exhibition has been included in the programme of the 37th Days of Japanese Culture in Bulgaria. The earliest presented period is associated with the well-known UKIYO-E woodblock print, occupying a central place in the development of Japanese printmaking during the Edo period (1603–1868). In the early 20th century, two new trends emerged: shin-hanga (‘new prints’) and sōsaku-hanga (‘creative prints’). Although developing practically simultaneously, they were based on a different understanding of the role of the artist and the process of creating a graphic work.
SHIN-HANGA emerged in the early 20th century as an attempt to breathe fresh life into traditional ukiyo-e. The established production model was preserved, where the creation of a print was the result of joint work between the publisher, artist, carver and printer.
SŌSAKU-HANGA established a different principle: the artists alone designed the composition, processed the woodblock and printed the work themself. In their prints, the tradition of Japanese woodcut engraving was combined with the artistic principles of European Modernism.
After the end of the Second World War, Japanese artists gradually revived their international contacts, some of them established ties with China, the USSR, and the countries of Eastern Europe. It was in such a context that one of the early acquisitions was included in the newly established Department of Foreign Art at the National Gallery – In 1957, the Bulgarian state purchased works shown in an exhibition organised by graphic artist Mircho Yakobov at the Union of Bulgarian Artists gallery, at 125, G.S. Rakovski Street in Sofia.
The late 1950s marked a pivotal period where Japanese graphics entered an era of significant technical and artistic diversity. Moving beyond woodcuts, lithography, etching, dry point, mezzotint and various mixed techniques were increasingly used. In the second half of the 20th century, Japanese artists actively took part in international exhibitions and biennales, achieving major recognition on the world graphic scene. This period is extensively represented in the National Gallery collection. Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
The current exhibition has been included in the programme of the 37th Days of Japanese Culture in Bulgaria. The earliest presented period is associated with the well-known UKIYO-E woodblock print, occupying a central place in the development of Japanese printmaking during the Edo period (1603–1868). In the early 20th century, two new trends emerged: shin-hanga (‘new prints’) and sōsaku-hanga (‘creative prints’). Although developing practically simultaneously, they were based on a different understanding of the role of the artist and the process of creating a graphic work.
SHIN-HANGA emerged in the early 20th century as an attempt to breathe fresh life into traditional ukiyo-e. The established production model was preserved, where the creation of a print was the result of joint work between the publisher, artist, carver and printer.
SŌSAKU-HANGA established a different principle: the artists alone designed the composition, processed the woodblock and printed the work themself. In their prints, the tradition of Japanese woodcut engraving was combined with the artistic principles of European Modernism.
After the end of the Second World War, Japanese artists gradually revived their international contacts, some of them established ties with China, the USSR, and the countries of Eastern Europe. It was in such a context that one of the early acquisitions was included in the newly established Department of Foreign Art at the National Gallery – In 1957, the Bulgarian state purchased works shown in an exhibition organised by graphic artist Mircho Yakobov at the Union of Bulgarian Artists gallery, at 125, G.S. Rakovski Street in Sofia.
The late 1950s marked a pivotal period where Japanese graphics entered an era of significant technical and artistic diversity. Moving beyond woodcuts, lithography, etching, dry point, mezzotint and various mixed techniques were increasingly used. In the second half of the 20th century, Japanese artists actively took part in international exhibitions and biennales, achieving major recognition on the world graphic scene. This period is extensively represented in the National Gallery collection. Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Exhibitions
23.09.2026 - 18.11.2026
Piano Extravaganza Festival 2026
Within this year’s edition, Piano Extravaganza Festival will present four piano recitals and two chamber music concerts. We hope that our extraordinary artists and the variety of the repertoire for those 6 events would satisfy even the most sophisticated connoisseur. We would be delighted to welcome you at the wonderful venues of the Central Military Club and the “Bulgaria” Chamber Hall in Sofia!
Tickets at EVENTIM.
Tickets at EVENTIM.
Festivals
29.10.2026 - 06.12.2026
Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch. ARCHITECTURE: (THE) POSSIBLE ART
Sofia Arsenal – Museum of Contemporary Art
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Exhibitions
20.10.2026 - 20.10.2027
THE WALL Vol. 7 Nevelin Ivanov I FEEL NOTHING ELSE BUT DISAPPOINTMENT
The 7th edition of “The Wall” presents the work of Nevelin Ivanov "I Feel Nothing Else but Disappointment".
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Exhibitions
16.06.2026 - 16.06.2027
Temporary Exhibition New Acquisitions
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
12.02.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Copper - Ancient and Modern"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
11.04.2025 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Minerals and Colorful Creatures. Drawings by Nature"
The Minerals of Bulgaria exposition has been expanded with a new theme: Unique mineral finds from Bulgaria, a project financed by the Ministry of culture. In 6 display cases, minerals with the most beautiful crystals, rare colors and shapes are exhibited, selected for tens of years by hundreds of geologists and collectors from all over Bulgaria.
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
01.04.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Natural Art from Chalcedony"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
01.01.2023 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Smart Minerals for Smartphones"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
22.10.2026 - 20.11.2026
VERA NEDKOVA – KIRIL TSONEV ENCOUNTERS
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev belonged to the generation of artists who, during the 1930s, changed the face of Bulgarian plastic culture infusing it with a modern European spirit. The profound bond between them represented one of the most significant collegial and creative friendships in Bulgarian art of that period. Surviving memoirs, writings, and documents attest to their outstanding culture and erudition, through
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
Exhibitions
10.12.2025 - 30.01.2027
Zahari Zograph Immersive Exhibition
The National Gallery presents one of the most iconic figures in the history of Bulgarian art – Zahari Zograph. This first immersive exhibition introduces a new way of experiencing the masterpieces of the the museum’s collection. Harnessing new technologies, the 20-minute project, created by Senzor Studio, brings his religious and secular masterpieces to life, revealing essential elements of his creative process.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
Exhibitions
18.09.2026 - 22.11.2026
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Memory Programme
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
Exhibitions
28.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
HRISTO SIMEONOV (1935–2020) BETWEEN MATTER AND ANTIMATTER
Hristo Simeonov (1935–2020) belonged to the generation of artists whose creative searches unfolded amidst the evolving visual language of the second half of the 20th century. Within the context of Bulgarian art, this painter stood out for his idiosyncratic creative system—the result of long-standing research in physics, astrology, and cosmology—that existed at the intersection of painting, philosophy, science, and imagination.
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
Exhibitions
27.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
IVAN TOMANOV (1956−2017) - INSPIRATION
The ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund is visiting the National Gallery to present ‘Inspiration’, an exhibition by Karlovo artist Ivan Tomanov (1956–2017). The event is part of the programme marking the 45th anniversary of the Fund’s foundation.
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
Exhibitions
17.09.2026 - 08.11.2026
JAPANESE PRINTS: 18th–20th CENTURIES
The Palace The National Gallery collection – one of the most representative of Japanese prints in Southeast Europe – follows the development of the major movements and graphic techniques over the past two centuries. The works have been acquired in various ways: through purchases, from exhibitions in 1957 and 1963, from the International Print Biennial in Varna (founded in 1981), donations from artists at their exhibitions in Bulgaria between the 1970s and the late 20th century. Of crucial importance was the 1975 Agreement on Cooperation between Bulgaria and Japan, which led to the expansion of the exchange of exhibitions and other cultural initiatives. An event of key importance is the exhibition organised jointly with the Japan Foundation in Sofia fifty years ago.
The current exhibition has been included in the programme of the 37th Days of Japanese Culture in Bulgaria. The earliest presented period is associated with the well-known UKIYO-E woodblock print, occupying a central place in the development of Japanese printmaking during the Edo period (1603–1868). In the early 20th century, two new trends emerged: shin-hanga (‘new prints’) and sōsaku-hanga (‘creative prints’). Although developing practically simultaneously, they were based on a different understanding of the role of the artist and the process of creating a graphic work.
SHIN-HANGA emerged in the early 20th century as an attempt to breathe fresh life into traditional ukiyo-e. The established production model was preserved, where the creation of a print was the result of joint work between the publisher, artist, carver and printer.
SŌSAKU-HANGA established a different principle: the artists alone designed the composition, processed the woodblock and printed the work themself. In their prints, the tradition of Japanese woodcut engraving was combined with the artistic principles of European Modernism.
After the end of the Second World War, Japanese artists gradually revived their international contacts, some of them established ties with China, the USSR, and the countries of Eastern Europe. It was in such a context that one of the early acquisitions was included in the newly established Department of Foreign Art at the National Gallery – In 1957, the Bulgarian state purchased works shown in an exhibition organised by graphic artist Mircho Yakobov at the Union of Bulgarian Artists gallery, at 125, G.S. Rakovski Street in Sofia.
The late 1950s marked a pivotal period where Japanese graphics entered an era of significant technical and artistic diversity. Moving beyond woodcuts, lithography, etching, dry point, mezzotint and various mixed techniques were increasingly used. In the second half of the 20th century, Japanese artists actively took part in international exhibitions and biennales, achieving major recognition on the world graphic scene. This period is extensively represented in the National Gallery collection. Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
The current exhibition has been included in the programme of the 37th Days of Japanese Culture in Bulgaria. The earliest presented period is associated with the well-known UKIYO-E woodblock print, occupying a central place in the development of Japanese printmaking during the Edo period (1603–1868). In the early 20th century, two new trends emerged: shin-hanga (‘new prints’) and sōsaku-hanga (‘creative prints’). Although developing practically simultaneously, they were based on a different understanding of the role of the artist and the process of creating a graphic work.
SHIN-HANGA emerged in the early 20th century as an attempt to breathe fresh life into traditional ukiyo-e. The established production model was preserved, where the creation of a print was the result of joint work between the publisher, artist, carver and printer.
SŌSAKU-HANGA established a different principle: the artists alone designed the composition, processed the woodblock and printed the work themself. In their prints, the tradition of Japanese woodcut engraving was combined with the artistic principles of European Modernism.
After the end of the Second World War, Japanese artists gradually revived their international contacts, some of them established ties with China, the USSR, and the countries of Eastern Europe. It was in such a context that one of the early acquisitions was included in the newly established Department of Foreign Art at the National Gallery – In 1957, the Bulgarian state purchased works shown in an exhibition organised by graphic artist Mircho Yakobov at the Union of Bulgarian Artists gallery, at 125, G.S. Rakovski Street in Sofia.
The late 1950s marked a pivotal period where Japanese graphics entered an era of significant technical and artistic diversity. Moving beyond woodcuts, lithography, etching, dry point, mezzotint and various mixed techniques were increasingly used. In the second half of the 20th century, Japanese artists actively took part in international exhibitions and biennales, achieving major recognition on the world graphic scene. This period is extensively represented in the National Gallery collection. Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Exhibitions
23.09.2026 - 18.11.2026
Piano Extravaganza Festival 2026
Within this year’s edition, Piano Extravaganza Festival will present four piano recitals and two chamber music concerts. We hope that our extraordinary artists and the variety of the repertoire for those 6 events would satisfy even the most sophisticated connoisseur. We would be delighted to welcome you at the wonderful venues of the Central Military Club and the “Bulgaria” Chamber Hall in Sofia!
Tickets at EVENTIM.
Tickets at EVENTIM.
Festivals
29.10.2026 - 06.12.2026
Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch. ARCHITECTURE: (THE) POSSIBLE ART
Sofia Arsenal – Museum of Contemporary Art
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Exhibitions
20.10.2026 - 20.10.2027
THE WALL Vol. 7 Nevelin Ivanov I FEEL NOTHING ELSE BUT DISAPPOINTMENT
The 7th edition of “The Wall” presents the work of Nevelin Ivanov "I Feel Nothing Else but Disappointment".
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Exhibitions
16.06.2026 - 16.06.2027
Temporary Exhibition New Acquisitions
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
12.02.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Copper - Ancient and Modern"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
11.04.2025 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Minerals and Colorful Creatures. Drawings by Nature"
The Minerals of Bulgaria exposition has been expanded with a new theme: Unique mineral finds from Bulgaria, a project financed by the Ministry of culture. In 6 display cases, minerals with the most beautiful crystals, rare colors and shapes are exhibited, selected for tens of years by hundreds of geologists and collectors from all over Bulgaria.
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
01.04.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Natural Art from Chalcedony"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
01.01.2023 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Smart Minerals for Smartphones"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
22.10.2026 - 20.11.2026
VERA NEDKOVA – KIRIL TSONEV ENCOUNTERS
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev belonged to the generation of artists who, during the 1930s, changed the face of Bulgarian plastic culture infusing it with a modern European spirit. The profound bond between them represented one of the most significant collegial and creative friendships in Bulgarian art of that period. Surviving memoirs, writings, and documents attest to their outstanding culture and erudition, through
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
Exhibitions
10.12.2025 - 30.01.2027
Zahari Zograph Immersive Exhibition
The National Gallery presents one of the most iconic figures in the history of Bulgarian art – Zahari Zograph. This first immersive exhibition introduces a new way of experiencing the masterpieces of the the museum’s collection. Harnessing new technologies, the 20-minute project, created by Senzor Studio, brings his religious and secular masterpieces to life, revealing essential elements of his creative process.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
Exhibitions
03.11.2026
Piano Extravaganza Festival 2026 - Piano recital of Lizaveta Zasimovich (Belarus)
Works of Mozart, Schumann, Ravel, Rodrigo, Korngold, Stravinsky/Agosti.
Festivals
18.09.2026 - 22.11.2026
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Memory Programme
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
Exhibitions
28.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
HRISTO SIMEONOV (1935–2020) BETWEEN MATTER AND ANTIMATTER
Hristo Simeonov (1935–2020) belonged to the generation of artists whose creative searches unfolded amidst the evolving visual language of the second half of the 20th century. Within the context of Bulgarian art, this painter stood out for his idiosyncratic creative system—the result of long-standing research in physics, astrology, and cosmology—that existed at the intersection of painting, philosophy, science, and imagination.
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
Exhibitions
27.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
IVAN TOMANOV (1956−2017) - INSPIRATION
The ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund is visiting the National Gallery to present ‘Inspiration’, an exhibition by Karlovo artist Ivan Tomanov (1956–2017). The event is part of the programme marking the 45th anniversary of the Fund’s foundation.
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
Exhibitions
17.09.2026 - 08.11.2026
JAPANESE PRINTS: 18th–20th CENTURIES
The Palace The National Gallery collection – one of the most representative of Japanese prints in Southeast Europe – follows the development of the major movements and graphic techniques over the past two centuries. The works have been acquired in various ways: through purchases, from exhibitions in 1957 and 1963, from the International Print Biennial in Varna (founded in 1981), donations from artists at their exhibitions in Bulgaria between the 1970s and the late 20th century. Of crucial importance was the 1975 Agreement on Cooperation between Bulgaria and Japan, which led to the expansion of the exchange of exhibitions and other cultural initiatives. An event of key importance is the exhibition organised jointly with the Japan Foundation in Sofia fifty years ago.
The current exhibition has been included in the programme of the 37th Days of Japanese Culture in Bulgaria. The earliest presented period is associated with the well-known UKIYO-E woodblock print, occupying a central place in the development of Japanese printmaking during the Edo period (1603–1868). In the early 20th century, two new trends emerged: shin-hanga (‘new prints’) and sōsaku-hanga (‘creative prints’). Although developing practically simultaneously, they were based on a different understanding of the role of the artist and the process of creating a graphic work.
SHIN-HANGA emerged in the early 20th century as an attempt to breathe fresh life into traditional ukiyo-e. The established production model was preserved, where the creation of a print was the result of joint work between the publisher, artist, carver and printer.
SŌSAKU-HANGA established a different principle: the artists alone designed the composition, processed the woodblock and printed the work themself. In their prints, the tradition of Japanese woodcut engraving was combined with the artistic principles of European Modernism.
After the end of the Second World War, Japanese artists gradually revived their international contacts, some of them established ties with China, the USSR, and the countries of Eastern Europe. It was in such a context that one of the early acquisitions was included in the newly established Department of Foreign Art at the National Gallery – In 1957, the Bulgarian state purchased works shown in an exhibition organised by graphic artist Mircho Yakobov at the Union of Bulgarian Artists gallery, at 125, G.S. Rakovski Street in Sofia.
The late 1950s marked a pivotal period where Japanese graphics entered an era of significant technical and artistic diversity. Moving beyond woodcuts, lithography, etching, dry point, mezzotint and various mixed techniques were increasingly used. In the second half of the 20th century, Japanese artists actively took part in international exhibitions and biennales, achieving major recognition on the world graphic scene. This period is extensively represented in the National Gallery collection. Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
The current exhibition has been included in the programme of the 37th Days of Japanese Culture in Bulgaria. The earliest presented period is associated with the well-known UKIYO-E woodblock print, occupying a central place in the development of Japanese printmaking during the Edo period (1603–1868). In the early 20th century, two new trends emerged: shin-hanga (‘new prints’) and sōsaku-hanga (‘creative prints’). Although developing practically simultaneously, they were based on a different understanding of the role of the artist and the process of creating a graphic work.
SHIN-HANGA emerged in the early 20th century as an attempt to breathe fresh life into traditional ukiyo-e. The established production model was preserved, where the creation of a print was the result of joint work between the publisher, artist, carver and printer.
SŌSAKU-HANGA established a different principle: the artists alone designed the composition, processed the woodblock and printed the work themself. In their prints, the tradition of Japanese woodcut engraving was combined with the artistic principles of European Modernism.
After the end of the Second World War, Japanese artists gradually revived their international contacts, some of them established ties with China, the USSR, and the countries of Eastern Europe. It was in such a context that one of the early acquisitions was included in the newly established Department of Foreign Art at the National Gallery – In 1957, the Bulgarian state purchased works shown in an exhibition organised by graphic artist Mircho Yakobov at the Union of Bulgarian Artists gallery, at 125, G.S. Rakovski Street in Sofia.
The late 1950s marked a pivotal period where Japanese graphics entered an era of significant technical and artistic diversity. Moving beyond woodcuts, lithography, etching, dry point, mezzotint and various mixed techniques were increasingly used. In the second half of the 20th century, Japanese artists actively took part in international exhibitions and biennales, achieving major recognition on the world graphic scene. This period is extensively represented in the National Gallery collection. Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Exhibitions
23.09.2026 - 18.11.2026
Piano Extravaganza Festival 2026
Within this year’s edition, Piano Extravaganza Festival will present four piano recitals and two chamber music concerts. We hope that our extraordinary artists and the variety of the repertoire for those 6 events would satisfy even the most sophisticated connoisseur. We would be delighted to welcome you at the wonderful venues of the Central Military Club and the “Bulgaria” Chamber Hall in Sofia!
Tickets at EVENTIM.
Tickets at EVENTIM.
Festivals
29.10.2026 - 06.12.2026
Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch. ARCHITECTURE: (THE) POSSIBLE ART
Sofia Arsenal – Museum of Contemporary Art
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Exhibitions
20.10.2026 - 20.10.2027
THE WALL Vol. 7 Nevelin Ivanov I FEEL NOTHING ELSE BUT DISAPPOINTMENT
The 7th edition of “The Wall” presents the work of Nevelin Ivanov "I Feel Nothing Else but Disappointment".
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Exhibitions
16.06.2026 - 16.06.2027
Temporary Exhibition New Acquisitions
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
12.02.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Copper - Ancient and Modern"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
11.04.2025 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Minerals and Colorful Creatures. Drawings by Nature"
The Minerals of Bulgaria exposition has been expanded with a new theme: Unique mineral finds from Bulgaria, a project financed by the Ministry of culture. In 6 display cases, minerals with the most beautiful crystals, rare colors and shapes are exhibited, selected for tens of years by hundreds of geologists and collectors from all over Bulgaria.
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
01.04.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Natural Art from Chalcedony"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
01.01.2023 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Smart Minerals for Smartphones"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
22.10.2026 - 20.11.2026
VERA NEDKOVA – KIRIL TSONEV ENCOUNTERS
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev belonged to the generation of artists who, during the 1930s, changed the face of Bulgarian plastic culture infusing it with a modern European spirit. The profound bond between them represented one of the most significant collegial and creative friendships in Bulgarian art of that period. Surviving memoirs, writings, and documents attest to their outstanding culture and erudition, through
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
Exhibitions
10.12.2025 - 30.01.2027
Zahari Zograph Immersive Exhibition
The National Gallery presents one of the most iconic figures in the history of Bulgarian art – Zahari Zograph. This first immersive exhibition introduces a new way of experiencing the masterpieces of the the museum’s collection. Harnessing new technologies, the 20-minute project, created by Senzor Studio, brings his religious and secular masterpieces to life, revealing essential elements of his creative process.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
Exhibitions
18.09.2026 - 22.11.2026
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Memory Programme
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
Exhibitions
05.11.2026
Business Events
28.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
HRISTO SIMEONOV (1935–2020) BETWEEN MATTER AND ANTIMATTER
Hristo Simeonov (1935–2020) belonged to the generation of artists whose creative searches unfolded amidst the evolving visual language of the second half of the 20th century. Within the context of Bulgarian art, this painter stood out for his idiosyncratic creative system—the result of long-standing research in physics, astrology, and cosmology—that existed at the intersection of painting, philosophy, science, and imagination.
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
Exhibitions
27.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
IVAN TOMANOV (1956−2017) - INSPIRATION
The ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund is visiting the National Gallery to present ‘Inspiration’, an exhibition by Karlovo artist Ivan Tomanov (1956–2017). The event is part of the programme marking the 45th anniversary of the Fund’s foundation.
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
Exhibitions
17.09.2026 - 08.11.2026
JAPANESE PRINTS: 18th–20th CENTURIES
The Palace The National Gallery collection – one of the most representative of Japanese prints in Southeast Europe – follows the development of the major movements and graphic techniques over the past two centuries. The works have been acquired in various ways: through purchases, from exhibitions in 1957 and 1963, from the International Print Biennial in Varna (founded in 1981), donations from artists at their exhibitions in Bulgaria between the 1970s and the late 20th century. Of crucial importance was the 1975 Agreement on Cooperation between Bulgaria and Japan, which led to the expansion of the exchange of exhibitions and other cultural initiatives. An event of key importance is the exhibition organised jointly with the Japan Foundation in Sofia fifty years ago.
The current exhibition has been included in the programme of the 37th Days of Japanese Culture in Bulgaria. The earliest presented period is associated with the well-known UKIYO-E woodblock print, occupying a central place in the development of Japanese printmaking during the Edo period (1603–1868). In the early 20th century, two new trends emerged: shin-hanga (‘new prints’) and sōsaku-hanga (‘creative prints’). Although developing practically simultaneously, they were based on a different understanding of the role of the artist and the process of creating a graphic work.
SHIN-HANGA emerged in the early 20th century as an attempt to breathe fresh life into traditional ukiyo-e. The established production model was preserved, where the creation of a print was the result of joint work between the publisher, artist, carver and printer.
SŌSAKU-HANGA established a different principle: the artists alone designed the composition, processed the woodblock and printed the work themself. In their prints, the tradition of Japanese woodcut engraving was combined with the artistic principles of European Modernism.
After the end of the Second World War, Japanese artists gradually revived their international contacts, some of them established ties with China, the USSR, and the countries of Eastern Europe. It was in such a context that one of the early acquisitions was included in the newly established Department of Foreign Art at the National Gallery – In 1957, the Bulgarian state purchased works shown in an exhibition organised by graphic artist Mircho Yakobov at the Union of Bulgarian Artists gallery, at 125, G.S. Rakovski Street in Sofia.
The late 1950s marked a pivotal period where Japanese graphics entered an era of significant technical and artistic diversity. Moving beyond woodcuts, lithography, etching, dry point, mezzotint and various mixed techniques were increasingly used. In the second half of the 20th century, Japanese artists actively took part in international exhibitions and biennales, achieving major recognition on the world graphic scene. This period is extensively represented in the National Gallery collection. Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
The current exhibition has been included in the programme of the 37th Days of Japanese Culture in Bulgaria. The earliest presented period is associated with the well-known UKIYO-E woodblock print, occupying a central place in the development of Japanese printmaking during the Edo period (1603–1868). In the early 20th century, two new trends emerged: shin-hanga (‘new prints’) and sōsaku-hanga (‘creative prints’). Although developing practically simultaneously, they were based on a different understanding of the role of the artist and the process of creating a graphic work.
SHIN-HANGA emerged in the early 20th century as an attempt to breathe fresh life into traditional ukiyo-e. The established production model was preserved, where the creation of a print was the result of joint work between the publisher, artist, carver and printer.
SŌSAKU-HANGA established a different principle: the artists alone designed the composition, processed the woodblock and printed the work themself. In their prints, the tradition of Japanese woodcut engraving was combined with the artistic principles of European Modernism.
After the end of the Second World War, Japanese artists gradually revived their international contacts, some of them established ties with China, the USSR, and the countries of Eastern Europe. It was in such a context that one of the early acquisitions was included in the newly established Department of Foreign Art at the National Gallery – In 1957, the Bulgarian state purchased works shown in an exhibition organised by graphic artist Mircho Yakobov at the Union of Bulgarian Artists gallery, at 125, G.S. Rakovski Street in Sofia.
The late 1950s marked a pivotal period where Japanese graphics entered an era of significant technical and artistic diversity. Moving beyond woodcuts, lithography, etching, dry point, mezzotint and various mixed techniques were increasingly used. In the second half of the 20th century, Japanese artists actively took part in international exhibitions and biennales, achieving major recognition on the world graphic scene. This period is extensively represented in the National Gallery collection. Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Exhibitions
23.09.2026 - 18.11.2026
Piano Extravaganza Festival 2026
Within this year’s edition, Piano Extravaganza Festival will present four piano recitals and two chamber music concerts. We hope that our extraordinary artists and the variety of the repertoire for those 6 events would satisfy even the most sophisticated connoisseur. We would be delighted to welcome you at the wonderful venues of the Central Military Club and the “Bulgaria” Chamber Hall in Sofia!
Tickets at EVENTIM.
Tickets at EVENTIM.
Festivals
29.10.2026 - 06.12.2026
Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch. ARCHITECTURE: (THE) POSSIBLE ART
Sofia Arsenal – Museum of Contemporary Art
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Exhibitions
20.10.2026 - 20.10.2027
THE WALL Vol. 7 Nevelin Ivanov I FEEL NOTHING ELSE BUT DISAPPOINTMENT
The 7th edition of “The Wall” presents the work of Nevelin Ivanov "I Feel Nothing Else but Disappointment".
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Exhibitions
16.06.2026 - 16.06.2027
Temporary Exhibition New Acquisitions
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
12.02.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Copper - Ancient and Modern"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
11.04.2025 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Minerals and Colorful Creatures. Drawings by Nature"
The Minerals of Bulgaria exposition has been expanded with a new theme: Unique mineral finds from Bulgaria, a project financed by the Ministry of culture. In 6 display cases, minerals with the most beautiful crystals, rare colors and shapes are exhibited, selected for tens of years by hundreds of geologists and collectors from all over Bulgaria.
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
01.04.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Natural Art from Chalcedony"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
01.01.2023 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Smart Minerals for Smartphones"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
22.10.2026 - 20.11.2026
VERA NEDKOVA – KIRIL TSONEV ENCOUNTERS
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev belonged to the generation of artists who, during the 1930s, changed the face of Bulgarian plastic culture infusing it with a modern European spirit. The profound bond between them represented one of the most significant collegial and creative friendships in Bulgarian art of that period. Surviving memoirs, writings, and documents attest to their outstanding culture and erudition, through
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
Exhibitions
10.12.2025 - 30.01.2027
Zahari Zograph Immersive Exhibition
The National Gallery presents one of the most iconic figures in the history of Bulgarian art – Zahari Zograph. This first immersive exhibition introduces a new way of experiencing the masterpieces of the the museum’s collection. Harnessing new technologies, the 20-minute project, created by Senzor Studio, brings his religious and secular masterpieces to life, revealing essential elements of his creative process.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
Exhibitions
05.11.2026
Karen Gomyo & Viliana Valtcheva
Bulgaria Concert Hall
Conductor
Viliana Valtcheva
Soloist/s
Karen Gomyo
Ensembles
Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra
National Philharmonic Choir
Program
Alexander Glazunov
Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 82
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
Symphony No.2 in B flat major, Op. 52
Conductor
Viliana Valtcheva
Soloist/s
Karen Gomyo
Ensembles
Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra
National Philharmonic Choir
Program
Alexander Glazunov
Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 82
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
Symphony No.2 in B flat major, Op. 52
Music and Dance Events
18.09.2026 - 22.11.2026
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Memory Programme
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
Exhibitions
28.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
HRISTO SIMEONOV (1935–2020) BETWEEN MATTER AND ANTIMATTER
Hristo Simeonov (1935–2020) belonged to the generation of artists whose creative searches unfolded amidst the evolving visual language of the second half of the 20th century. Within the context of Bulgarian art, this painter stood out for his idiosyncratic creative system—the result of long-standing research in physics, astrology, and cosmology—that existed at the intersection of painting, philosophy, science, and imagination.
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
Exhibitions
27.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
IVAN TOMANOV (1956−2017) - INSPIRATION
The ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund is visiting the National Gallery to present ‘Inspiration’, an exhibition by Karlovo artist Ivan Tomanov (1956–2017). The event is part of the programme marking the 45th anniversary of the Fund’s foundation.
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
Exhibitions
17.09.2026 - 08.11.2026
JAPANESE PRINTS: 18th–20th CENTURIES
The Palace The National Gallery collection – one of the most representative of Japanese prints in Southeast Europe – follows the development of the major movements and graphic techniques over the past two centuries. The works have been acquired in various ways: through purchases, from exhibitions in 1957 and 1963, from the International Print Biennial in Varna (founded in 1981), donations from artists at their exhibitions in Bulgaria between the 1970s and the late 20th century. Of crucial importance was the 1975 Agreement on Cooperation between Bulgaria and Japan, which led to the expansion of the exchange of exhibitions and other cultural initiatives. An event of key importance is the exhibition organised jointly with the Japan Foundation in Sofia fifty years ago.
The current exhibition has been included in the programme of the 37th Days of Japanese Culture in Bulgaria. The earliest presented period is associated with the well-known UKIYO-E woodblock print, occupying a central place in the development of Japanese printmaking during the Edo period (1603–1868). In the early 20th century, two new trends emerged: shin-hanga (‘new prints’) and sōsaku-hanga (‘creative prints’). Although developing practically simultaneously, they were based on a different understanding of the role of the artist and the process of creating a graphic work.
SHIN-HANGA emerged in the early 20th century as an attempt to breathe fresh life into traditional ukiyo-e. The established production model was preserved, where the creation of a print was the result of joint work between the publisher, artist, carver and printer.
SŌSAKU-HANGA established a different principle: the artists alone designed the composition, processed the woodblock and printed the work themself. In their prints, the tradition of Japanese woodcut engraving was combined with the artistic principles of European Modernism.
After the end of the Second World War, Japanese artists gradually revived their international contacts, some of them established ties with China, the USSR, and the countries of Eastern Europe. It was in such a context that one of the early acquisitions was included in the newly established Department of Foreign Art at the National Gallery – In 1957, the Bulgarian state purchased works shown in an exhibition organised by graphic artist Mircho Yakobov at the Union of Bulgarian Artists gallery, at 125, G.S. Rakovski Street in Sofia.
The late 1950s marked a pivotal period where Japanese graphics entered an era of significant technical and artistic diversity. Moving beyond woodcuts, lithography, etching, dry point, mezzotint and various mixed techniques were increasingly used. In the second half of the 20th century, Japanese artists actively took part in international exhibitions and biennales, achieving major recognition on the world graphic scene. This period is extensively represented in the National Gallery collection. Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
The current exhibition has been included in the programme of the 37th Days of Japanese Culture in Bulgaria. The earliest presented period is associated with the well-known UKIYO-E woodblock print, occupying a central place in the development of Japanese printmaking during the Edo period (1603–1868). In the early 20th century, two new trends emerged: shin-hanga (‘new prints’) and sōsaku-hanga (‘creative prints’). Although developing practically simultaneously, they were based on a different understanding of the role of the artist and the process of creating a graphic work.
SHIN-HANGA emerged in the early 20th century as an attempt to breathe fresh life into traditional ukiyo-e. The established production model was preserved, where the creation of a print was the result of joint work between the publisher, artist, carver and printer.
SŌSAKU-HANGA established a different principle: the artists alone designed the composition, processed the woodblock and printed the work themself. In their prints, the tradition of Japanese woodcut engraving was combined with the artistic principles of European Modernism.
After the end of the Second World War, Japanese artists gradually revived their international contacts, some of them established ties with China, the USSR, and the countries of Eastern Europe. It was in such a context that one of the early acquisitions was included in the newly established Department of Foreign Art at the National Gallery – In 1957, the Bulgarian state purchased works shown in an exhibition organised by graphic artist Mircho Yakobov at the Union of Bulgarian Artists gallery, at 125, G.S. Rakovski Street in Sofia.
The late 1950s marked a pivotal period where Japanese graphics entered an era of significant technical and artistic diversity. Moving beyond woodcuts, lithography, etching, dry point, mezzotint and various mixed techniques were increasingly used. In the second half of the 20th century, Japanese artists actively took part in international exhibitions and biennales, achieving major recognition on the world graphic scene. This period is extensively represented in the National Gallery collection. Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Exhibitions
23.09.2026 - 18.11.2026
Piano Extravaganza Festival 2026
Within this year’s edition, Piano Extravaganza Festival will present four piano recitals and two chamber music concerts. We hope that our extraordinary artists and the variety of the repertoire for those 6 events would satisfy even the most sophisticated connoisseur. We would be delighted to welcome you at the wonderful venues of the Central Military Club and the “Bulgaria” Chamber Hall in Sofia!
Tickets at EVENTIM.
Tickets at EVENTIM.
Festivals
29.10.2026 - 06.12.2026
Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch. ARCHITECTURE: (THE) POSSIBLE ART
Sofia Arsenal – Museum of Contemporary Art
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Exhibitions
20.10.2026 - 20.10.2027
THE WALL Vol. 7 Nevelin Ivanov I FEEL NOTHING ELSE BUT DISAPPOINTMENT
The 7th edition of “The Wall” presents the work of Nevelin Ivanov "I Feel Nothing Else but Disappointment".
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Exhibitions
16.06.2026 - 16.06.2027
Temporary Exhibition New Acquisitions
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
12.02.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Copper - Ancient and Modern"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
11.04.2025 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Minerals and Colorful Creatures. Drawings by Nature"
The Minerals of Bulgaria exposition has been expanded with a new theme: Unique mineral finds from Bulgaria, a project financed by the Ministry of culture. In 6 display cases, minerals with the most beautiful crystals, rare colors and shapes are exhibited, selected for tens of years by hundreds of geologists and collectors from all over Bulgaria.
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
01.04.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Natural Art from Chalcedony"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
01.01.2023 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Smart Minerals for Smartphones"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
22.10.2026 - 20.11.2026
VERA NEDKOVA – KIRIL TSONEV ENCOUNTERS
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev belonged to the generation of artists who, during the 1930s, changed the face of Bulgarian plastic culture infusing it with a modern European spirit. The profound bond between them represented one of the most significant collegial and creative friendships in Bulgarian art of that period. Surviving memoirs, writings, and documents attest to their outstanding culture and erudition, through
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
Exhibitions
10.12.2025 - 30.01.2027
Zahari Zograph Immersive Exhibition
The National Gallery presents one of the most iconic figures in the history of Bulgarian art – Zahari Zograph. This first immersive exhibition introduces a new way of experiencing the masterpieces of the the museum’s collection. Harnessing new technologies, the 20-minute project, created by Senzor Studio, brings his religious and secular masterpieces to life, revealing essential elements of his creative process.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
Exhibitions
06.11.2026
LA TRAVIATA
Opera by Giuseppe Verdi
Duration 3:00 Intermission 2
Main Hall
Children under 6 are not admitted to adult performances!
It is performed in Italian, with Bulgarian and English subtitles.
Duration 3:00 Intermission 2
Main Hall
Children under 6 are not admitted to adult performances!
It is performed in Italian, with Bulgarian and English subtitles.
Music and Dance Events
18.09.2026 - 22.11.2026
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Memory Programme
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
Exhibitions
28.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
HRISTO SIMEONOV (1935–2020) BETWEEN MATTER AND ANTIMATTER
Hristo Simeonov (1935–2020) belonged to the generation of artists whose creative searches unfolded amidst the evolving visual language of the second half of the 20th century. Within the context of Bulgarian art, this painter stood out for his idiosyncratic creative system—the result of long-standing research in physics, astrology, and cosmology—that existed at the intersection of painting, philosophy, science, and imagination.
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
Exhibitions
27.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
IVAN TOMANOV (1956−2017) - INSPIRATION
The ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund is visiting the National Gallery to present ‘Inspiration’, an exhibition by Karlovo artist Ivan Tomanov (1956–2017). The event is part of the programme marking the 45th anniversary of the Fund’s foundation.
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
Exhibitions
17.09.2026 - 08.11.2026
JAPANESE PRINTS: 18th–20th CENTURIES
The Palace The National Gallery collection – one of the most representative of Japanese prints in Southeast Europe – follows the development of the major movements and graphic techniques over the past two centuries. The works have been acquired in various ways: through purchases, from exhibitions in 1957 and 1963, from the International Print Biennial in Varna (founded in 1981), donations from artists at their exhibitions in Bulgaria between the 1970s and the late 20th century. Of crucial importance was the 1975 Agreement on Cooperation between Bulgaria and Japan, which led to the expansion of the exchange of exhibitions and other cultural initiatives. An event of key importance is the exhibition organised jointly with the Japan Foundation in Sofia fifty years ago.
The current exhibition has been included in the programme of the 37th Days of Japanese Culture in Bulgaria. The earliest presented period is associated with the well-known UKIYO-E woodblock print, occupying a central place in the development of Japanese printmaking during the Edo period (1603–1868). In the early 20th century, two new trends emerged: shin-hanga (‘new prints’) and sōsaku-hanga (‘creative prints’). Although developing practically simultaneously, they were based on a different understanding of the role of the artist and the process of creating a graphic work.
SHIN-HANGA emerged in the early 20th century as an attempt to breathe fresh life into traditional ukiyo-e. The established production model was preserved, where the creation of a print was the result of joint work between the publisher, artist, carver and printer.
SŌSAKU-HANGA established a different principle: the artists alone designed the composition, processed the woodblock and printed the work themself. In their prints, the tradition of Japanese woodcut engraving was combined with the artistic principles of European Modernism.
After the end of the Second World War, Japanese artists gradually revived their international contacts, some of them established ties with China, the USSR, and the countries of Eastern Europe. It was in such a context that one of the early acquisitions was included in the newly established Department of Foreign Art at the National Gallery – In 1957, the Bulgarian state purchased works shown in an exhibition organised by graphic artist Mircho Yakobov at the Union of Bulgarian Artists gallery, at 125, G.S. Rakovski Street in Sofia.
The late 1950s marked a pivotal period where Japanese graphics entered an era of significant technical and artistic diversity. Moving beyond woodcuts, lithography, etching, dry point, mezzotint and various mixed techniques were increasingly used. In the second half of the 20th century, Japanese artists actively took part in international exhibitions and biennales, achieving major recognition on the world graphic scene. This period is extensively represented in the National Gallery collection. Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
The current exhibition has been included in the programme of the 37th Days of Japanese Culture in Bulgaria. The earliest presented period is associated with the well-known UKIYO-E woodblock print, occupying a central place in the development of Japanese printmaking during the Edo period (1603–1868). In the early 20th century, two new trends emerged: shin-hanga (‘new prints’) and sōsaku-hanga (‘creative prints’). Although developing practically simultaneously, they were based on a different understanding of the role of the artist and the process of creating a graphic work.
SHIN-HANGA emerged in the early 20th century as an attempt to breathe fresh life into traditional ukiyo-e. The established production model was preserved, where the creation of a print was the result of joint work between the publisher, artist, carver and printer.
SŌSAKU-HANGA established a different principle: the artists alone designed the composition, processed the woodblock and printed the work themself. In their prints, the tradition of Japanese woodcut engraving was combined with the artistic principles of European Modernism.
After the end of the Second World War, Japanese artists gradually revived their international contacts, some of them established ties with China, the USSR, and the countries of Eastern Europe. It was in such a context that one of the early acquisitions was included in the newly established Department of Foreign Art at the National Gallery – In 1957, the Bulgarian state purchased works shown in an exhibition organised by graphic artist Mircho Yakobov at the Union of Bulgarian Artists gallery, at 125, G.S. Rakovski Street in Sofia.
The late 1950s marked a pivotal period where Japanese graphics entered an era of significant technical and artistic diversity. Moving beyond woodcuts, lithography, etching, dry point, mezzotint and various mixed techniques were increasingly used. In the second half of the 20th century, Japanese artists actively took part in international exhibitions and biennales, achieving major recognition on the world graphic scene. This period is extensively represented in the National Gallery collection. Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Exhibitions
23.09.2026 - 18.11.2026
Piano Extravaganza Festival 2026
Within this year’s edition, Piano Extravaganza Festival will present four piano recitals and two chamber music concerts. We hope that our extraordinary artists and the variety of the repertoire for those 6 events would satisfy even the most sophisticated connoisseur. We would be delighted to welcome you at the wonderful venues of the Central Military Club and the “Bulgaria” Chamber Hall in Sofia!
Tickets at EVENTIM.
Tickets at EVENTIM.
Festivals
29.10.2026 - 06.12.2026
Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch. ARCHITECTURE: (THE) POSSIBLE ART
Sofia Arsenal – Museum of Contemporary Art
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Exhibitions
20.10.2026 - 20.10.2027
THE WALL Vol. 7 Nevelin Ivanov I FEEL NOTHING ELSE BUT DISAPPOINTMENT
The 7th edition of “The Wall” presents the work of Nevelin Ivanov "I Feel Nothing Else but Disappointment".
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Exhibitions
16.06.2026 - 16.06.2027
Temporary Exhibition New Acquisitions
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
12.02.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Copper - Ancient and Modern"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
11.04.2025 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Minerals and Colorful Creatures. Drawings by Nature"
The Minerals of Bulgaria exposition has been expanded with a new theme: Unique mineral finds from Bulgaria, a project financed by the Ministry of culture. In 6 display cases, minerals with the most beautiful crystals, rare colors and shapes are exhibited, selected for tens of years by hundreds of geologists and collectors from all over Bulgaria.
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
01.04.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Natural Art from Chalcedony"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
01.01.2023 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Smart Minerals for Smartphones"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
22.10.2026 - 20.11.2026
VERA NEDKOVA – KIRIL TSONEV ENCOUNTERS
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev belonged to the generation of artists who, during the 1930s, changed the face of Bulgarian plastic culture infusing it with a modern European spirit. The profound bond between them represented one of the most significant collegial and creative friendships in Bulgarian art of that period. Surviving memoirs, writings, and documents attest to their outstanding culture and erudition, through
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
Exhibitions
10.12.2025 - 30.01.2027
Zahari Zograph Immersive Exhibition
The National Gallery presents one of the most iconic figures in the history of Bulgarian art – Zahari Zograph. This first immersive exhibition introduces a new way of experiencing the masterpieces of the the museum’s collection. Harnessing new technologies, the 20-minute project, created by Senzor Studio, brings his religious and secular masterpieces to life, revealing essential elements of his creative process.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
Exhibitions
07.11.2026
Music and Dance Events
07.11.2026
LA TRAVIATA
Opera by Giuseppe Verdi
Duration 3:00 Intermission 2
Main Hall
Children under 6 are not admitted to adult performances!
It is performed in Italian, with Bulgarian and English subtitles.
Duration 3:00 Intermission 2
Main Hall
Children under 6 are not admitted to adult performances!
It is performed in Italian, with Bulgarian and English subtitles.
Music and Dance Events
18.09.2026 - 22.11.2026
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Memory Programme
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
Exhibitions
28.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
HRISTO SIMEONOV (1935–2020) BETWEEN MATTER AND ANTIMATTER
Hristo Simeonov (1935–2020) belonged to the generation of artists whose creative searches unfolded amidst the evolving visual language of the second half of the 20th century. Within the context of Bulgarian art, this painter stood out for his idiosyncratic creative system—the result of long-standing research in physics, astrology, and cosmology—that existed at the intersection of painting, philosophy, science, and imagination.
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
Exhibitions
27.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
IVAN TOMANOV (1956−2017) - INSPIRATION
The ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund is visiting the National Gallery to present ‘Inspiration’, an exhibition by Karlovo artist Ivan Tomanov (1956–2017). The event is part of the programme marking the 45th anniversary of the Fund’s foundation.
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
Exhibitions
17.09.2026 - 08.11.2026
JAPANESE PRINTS: 18th–20th CENTURIES
The Palace The National Gallery collection – one of the most representative of Japanese prints in Southeast Europe – follows the development of the major movements and graphic techniques over the past two centuries. The works have been acquired in various ways: through purchases, from exhibitions in 1957 and 1963, from the International Print Biennial in Varna (founded in 1981), donations from artists at their exhibitions in Bulgaria between the 1970s and the late 20th century. Of crucial importance was the 1975 Agreement on Cooperation between Bulgaria and Japan, which led to the expansion of the exchange of exhibitions and other cultural initiatives. An event of key importance is the exhibition organised jointly with the Japan Foundation in Sofia fifty years ago.
The current exhibition has been included in the programme of the 37th Days of Japanese Culture in Bulgaria. The earliest presented period is associated with the well-known UKIYO-E woodblock print, occupying a central place in the development of Japanese printmaking during the Edo period (1603–1868). In the early 20th century, two new trends emerged: shin-hanga (‘new prints’) and sōsaku-hanga (‘creative prints’). Although developing practically simultaneously, they were based on a different understanding of the role of the artist and the process of creating a graphic work.
SHIN-HANGA emerged in the early 20th century as an attempt to breathe fresh life into traditional ukiyo-e. The established production model was preserved, where the creation of a print was the result of joint work between the publisher, artist, carver and printer.
SŌSAKU-HANGA established a different principle: the artists alone designed the composition, processed the woodblock and printed the work themself. In their prints, the tradition of Japanese woodcut engraving was combined with the artistic principles of European Modernism.
After the end of the Second World War, Japanese artists gradually revived their international contacts, some of them established ties with China, the USSR, and the countries of Eastern Europe. It was in such a context that one of the early acquisitions was included in the newly established Department of Foreign Art at the National Gallery – In 1957, the Bulgarian state purchased works shown in an exhibition organised by graphic artist Mircho Yakobov at the Union of Bulgarian Artists gallery, at 125, G.S. Rakovski Street in Sofia.
The late 1950s marked a pivotal period where Japanese graphics entered an era of significant technical and artistic diversity. Moving beyond woodcuts, lithography, etching, dry point, mezzotint and various mixed techniques were increasingly used. In the second half of the 20th century, Japanese artists actively took part in international exhibitions and biennales, achieving major recognition on the world graphic scene. This period is extensively represented in the National Gallery collection. Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
The current exhibition has been included in the programme of the 37th Days of Japanese Culture in Bulgaria. The earliest presented period is associated with the well-known UKIYO-E woodblock print, occupying a central place in the development of Japanese printmaking during the Edo period (1603–1868). In the early 20th century, two new trends emerged: shin-hanga (‘new prints’) and sōsaku-hanga (‘creative prints’). Although developing practically simultaneously, they were based on a different understanding of the role of the artist and the process of creating a graphic work.
SHIN-HANGA emerged in the early 20th century as an attempt to breathe fresh life into traditional ukiyo-e. The established production model was preserved, where the creation of a print was the result of joint work between the publisher, artist, carver and printer.
SŌSAKU-HANGA established a different principle: the artists alone designed the composition, processed the woodblock and printed the work themself. In their prints, the tradition of Japanese woodcut engraving was combined with the artistic principles of European Modernism.
After the end of the Second World War, Japanese artists gradually revived their international contacts, some of them established ties with China, the USSR, and the countries of Eastern Europe. It was in such a context that one of the early acquisitions was included in the newly established Department of Foreign Art at the National Gallery – In 1957, the Bulgarian state purchased works shown in an exhibition organised by graphic artist Mircho Yakobov at the Union of Bulgarian Artists gallery, at 125, G.S. Rakovski Street in Sofia.
The late 1950s marked a pivotal period where Japanese graphics entered an era of significant technical and artistic diversity. Moving beyond woodcuts, lithography, etching, dry point, mezzotint and various mixed techniques were increasingly used. In the second half of the 20th century, Japanese artists actively took part in international exhibitions and biennales, achieving major recognition on the world graphic scene. This period is extensively represented in the National Gallery collection. Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Exhibitions
23.09.2026 - 18.11.2026
Piano Extravaganza Festival 2026
Within this year’s edition, Piano Extravaganza Festival will present four piano recitals and two chamber music concerts. We hope that our extraordinary artists and the variety of the repertoire for those 6 events would satisfy even the most sophisticated connoisseur. We would be delighted to welcome you at the wonderful venues of the Central Military Club and the “Bulgaria” Chamber Hall in Sofia!
Tickets at EVENTIM.
Tickets at EVENTIM.
Festivals
29.10.2026 - 06.12.2026
Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch. ARCHITECTURE: (THE) POSSIBLE ART
Sofia Arsenal – Museum of Contemporary Art
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Exhibitions
20.10.2026 - 20.10.2027
THE WALL Vol. 7 Nevelin Ivanov I FEEL NOTHING ELSE BUT DISAPPOINTMENT
The 7th edition of “The Wall” presents the work of Nevelin Ivanov "I Feel Nothing Else but Disappointment".
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Exhibitions
16.06.2026 - 16.06.2027
Temporary Exhibition New Acquisitions
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
12.02.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Copper - Ancient and Modern"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
11.04.2025 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Minerals and Colorful Creatures. Drawings by Nature"
The Minerals of Bulgaria exposition has been expanded with a new theme: Unique mineral finds from Bulgaria, a project financed by the Ministry of culture. In 6 display cases, minerals with the most beautiful crystals, rare colors and shapes are exhibited, selected for tens of years by hundreds of geologists and collectors from all over Bulgaria.
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
01.04.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Natural Art from Chalcedony"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
01.01.2023 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Smart Minerals for Smartphones"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
22.10.2026 - 20.11.2026
VERA NEDKOVA – KIRIL TSONEV ENCOUNTERS
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev belonged to the generation of artists who, during the 1930s, changed the face of Bulgarian plastic culture infusing it with a modern European spirit. The profound bond between them represented one of the most significant collegial and creative friendships in Bulgarian art of that period. Surviving memoirs, writings, and documents attest to their outstanding culture and erudition, through
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
Exhibitions
10.12.2025 - 30.01.2027
Zahari Zograph Immersive Exhibition
The National Gallery presents one of the most iconic figures in the history of Bulgarian art – Zahari Zograph. This first immersive exhibition introduces a new way of experiencing the masterpieces of the the museum’s collection. Harnessing new technologies, the 20-minute project, created by Senzor Studio, brings his religious and secular masterpieces to life, revealing essential elements of his creative process.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
Exhibitions
08.11.2026
ZORBA THE GREEK
Ballet by Mikis Theodorakis
Main Hall
Children under 6 are not admitted to adult performances!
Main Hall
Children under 6 are not admitted to adult performances!
Music and Dance Events
08.11.2026
Shostakovich & Beethoven
Bulgaria Concert Hall
Conductor
José María Moreno Valiente
Soloist/s
Andrey Baranov
Ensemble
Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra
Program
Dmitri Shostakovich
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No.1 in a moll, op.77
Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No.7 in A Major, Op.92
Conductor
José María Moreno Valiente
Soloist/s
Andrey Baranov
Ensemble
Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra
Program
Dmitri Shostakovich
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No.1 in a moll, op.77
Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No.7 in A Major, Op.92
Music and Dance Events
18.09.2026 - 22.11.2026
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Memory Programme
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
Exhibitions
28.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
HRISTO SIMEONOV (1935–2020) BETWEEN MATTER AND ANTIMATTER
Hristo Simeonov (1935–2020) belonged to the generation of artists whose creative searches unfolded amidst the evolving visual language of the second half of the 20th century. Within the context of Bulgarian art, this painter stood out for his idiosyncratic creative system—the result of long-standing research in physics, astrology, and cosmology—that existed at the intersection of painting, philosophy, science, and imagination.
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
Exhibitions
27.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
IVAN TOMANOV (1956−2017) - INSPIRATION
The ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund is visiting the National Gallery to present ‘Inspiration’, an exhibition by Karlovo artist Ivan Tomanov (1956–2017). The event is part of the programme marking the 45th anniversary of the Fund’s foundation.
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
Exhibitions
23.09.2026 - 18.11.2026
Piano Extravaganza Festival 2026
Within this year’s edition, Piano Extravaganza Festival will present four piano recitals and two chamber music concerts. We hope that our extraordinary artists and the variety of the repertoire for those 6 events would satisfy even the most sophisticated connoisseur. We would be delighted to welcome you at the wonderful venues of the Central Military Club and the “Bulgaria” Chamber Hall in Sofia!
Tickets at EVENTIM.
Tickets at EVENTIM.
Festivals
29.10.2026 - 06.12.2026
Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch. ARCHITECTURE: (THE) POSSIBLE ART
Sofia Arsenal – Museum of Contemporary Art
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Exhibitions
20.10.2026 - 20.10.2027
THE WALL Vol. 7 Nevelin Ivanov I FEEL NOTHING ELSE BUT DISAPPOINTMENT
The 7th edition of “The Wall” presents the work of Nevelin Ivanov "I Feel Nothing Else but Disappointment".
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Exhibitions
16.06.2026 - 16.06.2027
Temporary Exhibition New Acquisitions
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
12.02.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Copper - Ancient and Modern"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
11.04.2025 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Minerals and Colorful Creatures. Drawings by Nature"
The Minerals of Bulgaria exposition has been expanded with a new theme: Unique mineral finds from Bulgaria, a project financed by the Ministry of culture. In 6 display cases, minerals with the most beautiful crystals, rare colors and shapes are exhibited, selected for tens of years by hundreds of geologists and collectors from all over Bulgaria.
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
01.04.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Natural Art from Chalcedony"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
01.01.2023 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Smart Minerals for Smartphones"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
22.10.2026 - 20.11.2026
VERA NEDKOVA – KIRIL TSONEV ENCOUNTERS
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev belonged to the generation of artists who, during the 1930s, changed the face of Bulgarian plastic culture infusing it with a modern European spirit. The profound bond between them represented one of the most significant collegial and creative friendships in Bulgarian art of that period. Surviving memoirs, writings, and documents attest to their outstanding culture and erudition, through
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
Exhibitions
10.12.2025 - 30.01.2027
Zahari Zograph Immersive Exhibition
The National Gallery presents one of the most iconic figures in the history of Bulgarian art – Zahari Zograph. This first immersive exhibition introduces a new way of experiencing the masterpieces of the the museum’s collection. Harnessing new technologies, the 20-minute project, created by Senzor Studio, brings his religious and secular masterpieces to life, revealing essential elements of his creative process.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
Exhibitions
18.09.2026 - 22.11.2026
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Memory Programme
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
Exhibitions
28.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
HRISTO SIMEONOV (1935–2020) BETWEEN MATTER AND ANTIMATTER
Hristo Simeonov (1935–2020) belonged to the generation of artists whose creative searches unfolded amidst the evolving visual language of the second half of the 20th century. Within the context of Bulgarian art, this painter stood out for his idiosyncratic creative system—the result of long-standing research in physics, astrology, and cosmology—that existed at the intersection of painting, philosophy, science, and imagination.
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
Exhibitions
27.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
IVAN TOMANOV (1956−2017) - INSPIRATION
The ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund is visiting the National Gallery to present ‘Inspiration’, an exhibition by Karlovo artist Ivan Tomanov (1956–2017). The event is part of the programme marking the 45th anniversary of the Fund’s foundation.
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
Exhibitions
23.09.2026 - 18.11.2026
Piano Extravaganza Festival 2026
Within this year’s edition, Piano Extravaganza Festival will present four piano recitals and two chamber music concerts. We hope that our extraordinary artists and the variety of the repertoire for those 6 events would satisfy even the most sophisticated connoisseur. We would be delighted to welcome you at the wonderful venues of the Central Military Club and the “Bulgaria” Chamber Hall in Sofia!
Tickets at EVENTIM.
Tickets at EVENTIM.
Festivals
29.10.2026 - 06.12.2026
Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch. ARCHITECTURE: (THE) POSSIBLE ART
Sofia Arsenal – Museum of Contemporary Art
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Exhibitions
20.10.2026 - 20.10.2027
THE WALL Vol. 7 Nevelin Ivanov I FEEL NOTHING ELSE BUT DISAPPOINTMENT
The 7th edition of “The Wall” presents the work of Nevelin Ivanov "I Feel Nothing Else but Disappointment".
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Exhibitions
16.06.2026 - 16.06.2027
Temporary Exhibition New Acquisitions
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
12.02.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Copper - Ancient and Modern"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
11.04.2025 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Minerals and Colorful Creatures. Drawings by Nature"
The Minerals of Bulgaria exposition has been expanded with a new theme: Unique mineral finds from Bulgaria, a project financed by the Ministry of culture. In 6 display cases, minerals with the most beautiful crystals, rare colors and shapes are exhibited, selected for tens of years by hundreds of geologists and collectors from all over Bulgaria.
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
01.04.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Natural Art from Chalcedony"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
01.01.2023 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Smart Minerals for Smartphones"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
22.10.2026 - 20.11.2026
VERA NEDKOVA – KIRIL TSONEV ENCOUNTERS
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev belonged to the generation of artists who, during the 1930s, changed the face of Bulgarian plastic culture infusing it with a modern European spirit. The profound bond between them represented one of the most significant collegial and creative friendships in Bulgarian art of that period. Surviving memoirs, writings, and documents attest to their outstanding culture and erudition, through
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
Exhibitions
10.12.2025 - 30.01.2027
Zahari Zograph Immersive Exhibition
The National Gallery presents one of the most iconic figures in the history of Bulgarian art – Zahari Zograph. This first immersive exhibition introduces a new way of experiencing the masterpieces of the the museum’s collection. Harnessing new technologies, the 20-minute project, created by Senzor Studio, brings his religious and secular masterpieces to life, revealing essential elements of his creative process.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
Exhibitions
11.11.2026 - 14.11.2026
DAIRY EXPO SOFIA
Milk and dairy products, additives, packaging, laboratory equipment and machines.
Business Events
18.09.2026 - 22.11.2026
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Memory Programme
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
Exhibitions
11.11.2026 - 15.11.2026
Business Events
28.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
HRISTO SIMEONOV (1935–2020) BETWEEN MATTER AND ANTIMATTER
Hristo Simeonov (1935–2020) belonged to the generation of artists whose creative searches unfolded amidst the evolving visual language of the second half of the 20th century. Within the context of Bulgarian art, this painter stood out for his idiosyncratic creative system—the result of long-standing research in physics, astrology, and cosmology—that existed at the intersection of painting, philosophy, science, and imagination.
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
Exhibitions
11.11.2026 - 14.11.2026
INTERFOOD & DRINK
Food and drinks, organic products, additives, machines and technologies.
Business Events
27.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
IVAN TOMANOV (1956−2017) - INSPIRATION
The ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund is visiting the National Gallery to present ‘Inspiration’, an exhibition by Karlovo artist Ivan Tomanov (1956–2017). The event is part of the programme marking the 45th anniversary of the Fund’s foundation.
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
Exhibitions
23.09.2026 - 18.11.2026
Piano Extravaganza Festival 2026
Within this year’s edition, Piano Extravaganza Festival will present four piano recitals and two chamber music concerts. We hope that our extraordinary artists and the variety of the repertoire for those 6 events would satisfy even the most sophisticated connoisseur. We would be delighted to welcome you at the wonderful venues of the Central Military Club and the “Bulgaria” Chamber Hall in Sofia!
Tickets at EVENTIM.
Tickets at EVENTIM.
Festivals
29.10.2026 - 06.12.2026
Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch. ARCHITECTURE: (THE) POSSIBLE ART
Sofia Arsenal – Museum of Contemporary Art
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Exhibitions
20.10.2026 - 20.10.2027
THE WALL Vol. 7 Nevelin Ivanov I FEEL NOTHING ELSE BUT DISAPPOINTMENT
The 7th edition of “The Wall” presents the work of Nevelin Ivanov "I Feel Nothing Else but Disappointment".
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Exhibitions
16.06.2026 - 16.06.2027
Temporary Exhibition New Acquisitions
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
12.02.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Copper - Ancient and Modern"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
11.04.2025 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Minerals and Colorful Creatures. Drawings by Nature"
The Minerals of Bulgaria exposition has been expanded with a new theme: Unique mineral finds from Bulgaria, a project financed by the Ministry of culture. In 6 display cases, minerals with the most beautiful crystals, rare colors and shapes are exhibited, selected for tens of years by hundreds of geologists and collectors from all over Bulgaria.
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
01.04.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Natural Art from Chalcedony"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
01.01.2023 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Smart Minerals for Smartphones"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
22.10.2026 - 20.11.2026
VERA NEDKOVA – KIRIL TSONEV ENCOUNTERS
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev belonged to the generation of artists who, during the 1930s, changed the face of Bulgarian plastic culture infusing it with a modern European spirit. The profound bond between them represented one of the most significant collegial and creative friendships in Bulgarian art of that period. Surviving memoirs, writings, and documents attest to their outstanding culture and erudition, through
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
Exhibitions
11.11.2026 - 14.11.2026
Business Events
10.12.2025 - 30.01.2027
Zahari Zograph Immersive Exhibition
The National Gallery presents one of the most iconic figures in the history of Bulgarian art – Zahari Zograph. This first immersive exhibition introduces a new way of experiencing the masterpieces of the the museum’s collection. Harnessing new technologies, the 20-minute project, created by Senzor Studio, brings his religious and secular masterpieces to life, revealing essential elements of his creative process.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
Exhibitions
11.11.2026 - 14.11.2026
DAIRY EXPO SOFIA
Milk and dairy products, additives, packaging, laboratory equipment and machines.
Business Events
18.09.2026 - 22.11.2026
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Memory Programme
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
Exhibitions
11.11.2026 - 15.11.2026
Business Events
28.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
HRISTO SIMEONOV (1935–2020) BETWEEN MATTER AND ANTIMATTER
Hristo Simeonov (1935–2020) belonged to the generation of artists whose creative searches unfolded amidst the evolving visual language of the second half of the 20th century. Within the context of Bulgarian art, this painter stood out for his idiosyncratic creative system—the result of long-standing research in physics, astrology, and cosmology—that existed at the intersection of painting, philosophy, science, and imagination.
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
Exhibitions
11.11.2026 - 14.11.2026
INTERFOOD & DRINK
Food and drinks, organic products, additives, machines and technologies.
Business Events
27.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
IVAN TOMANOV (1956−2017) - INSPIRATION
The ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund is visiting the National Gallery to present ‘Inspiration’, an exhibition by Karlovo artist Ivan Tomanov (1956–2017). The event is part of the programme marking the 45th anniversary of the Fund’s foundation.
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
Exhibitions
23.09.2026 - 18.11.2026
Piano Extravaganza Festival 2026
Within this year’s edition, Piano Extravaganza Festival will present four piano recitals and two chamber music concerts. We hope that our extraordinary artists and the variety of the repertoire for those 6 events would satisfy even the most sophisticated connoisseur. We would be delighted to welcome you at the wonderful venues of the Central Military Club and the “Bulgaria” Chamber Hall in Sofia!
Tickets at EVENTIM.
Tickets at EVENTIM.
Festivals
29.10.2026 - 06.12.2026
Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch. ARCHITECTURE: (THE) POSSIBLE ART
Sofia Arsenal – Museum of Contemporary Art
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Exhibitions
20.10.2026 - 20.10.2027
THE WALL Vol. 7 Nevelin Ivanov I FEEL NOTHING ELSE BUT DISAPPOINTMENT
The 7th edition of “The Wall” presents the work of Nevelin Ivanov "I Feel Nothing Else but Disappointment".
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Exhibitions
16.06.2026 - 16.06.2027
Temporary Exhibition New Acquisitions
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
12.02.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Copper - Ancient and Modern"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
11.04.2025 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Minerals and Colorful Creatures. Drawings by Nature"
The Minerals of Bulgaria exposition has been expanded with a new theme: Unique mineral finds from Bulgaria, a project financed by the Ministry of culture. In 6 display cases, minerals with the most beautiful crystals, rare colors and shapes are exhibited, selected for tens of years by hundreds of geologists and collectors from all over Bulgaria.
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
01.04.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Natural Art from Chalcedony"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
01.01.2023 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Smart Minerals for Smartphones"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
22.10.2026 - 20.11.2026
VERA NEDKOVA – KIRIL TSONEV ENCOUNTERS
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev belonged to the generation of artists who, during the 1930s, changed the face of Bulgarian plastic culture infusing it with a modern European spirit. The profound bond between them represented one of the most significant collegial and creative friendships in Bulgarian art of that period. Surviving memoirs, writings, and documents attest to their outstanding culture and erudition, through
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
Exhibitions
11.11.2026 - 14.11.2026
Business Events
10.12.2025 - 30.01.2027
Zahari Zograph Immersive Exhibition
The National Gallery presents one of the most iconic figures in the history of Bulgarian art – Zahari Zograph. This first immersive exhibition introduces a new way of experiencing the masterpieces of the the museum’s collection. Harnessing new technologies, the 20-minute project, created by Senzor Studio, brings his religious and secular masterpieces to life, revealing essential elements of his creative process.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
Exhibitions
12.11.2026
100 Years since the birth of Ventsislav Yankoff
Bulgaria Concert Hall
Conductor
Rossen Gergov
Soloist/s
Ludmil Angelov
François Chaplin
Claire Désert
Ensemble
Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra
Program
Francis Poulenc
Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra in D minor
Claude Debussy
Fantasia for Piano and Orchestra
Igor Stravinsky
The Firebird (L'Oiseau de feu) - version 1919
Conductor
Rossen Gergov
Soloist/s
Ludmil Angelov
François Chaplin
Claire Désert
Ensemble
Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra
Program
Francis Poulenc
Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra in D minor
Claude Debussy
Fantasia for Piano and Orchestra
Igor Stravinsky
The Firebird (L'Oiseau de feu) - version 1919
Music and Dance Events
12.11.2026
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
A Ballet based on Jane Austen’s novel
Duration 2:10 with 1 intermission
Main Hall
Children under 6 are not admitted to adult performances!
Duration 2:10 with 1 intermission
Main Hall
Children under 6 are not admitted to adult performances!
Music and Dance Events
11.11.2026 - 14.11.2026
DAIRY EXPO SOFIA
Milk and dairy products, additives, packaging, laboratory equipment and machines.
Business Events
18.09.2026 - 22.11.2026
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Memory Programme
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
Exhibitions
11.11.2026 - 15.11.2026
Business Events
28.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
HRISTO SIMEONOV (1935–2020) BETWEEN MATTER AND ANTIMATTER
Hristo Simeonov (1935–2020) belonged to the generation of artists whose creative searches unfolded amidst the evolving visual language of the second half of the 20th century. Within the context of Bulgarian art, this painter stood out for his idiosyncratic creative system—the result of long-standing research in physics, astrology, and cosmology—that existed at the intersection of painting, philosophy, science, and imagination.
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
Exhibitions
11.11.2026 - 14.11.2026
INTERFOOD & DRINK
Food and drinks, organic products, additives, machines and technologies.
Business Events
27.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
IVAN TOMANOV (1956−2017) - INSPIRATION
The ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund is visiting the National Gallery to present ‘Inspiration’, an exhibition by Karlovo artist Ivan Tomanov (1956–2017). The event is part of the programme marking the 45th anniversary of the Fund’s foundation.
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
Exhibitions
23.09.2026 - 18.11.2026
Piano Extravaganza Festival 2026
Within this year’s edition, Piano Extravaganza Festival will present four piano recitals and two chamber music concerts. We hope that our extraordinary artists and the variety of the repertoire for those 6 events would satisfy even the most sophisticated connoisseur. We would be delighted to welcome you at the wonderful venues of the Central Military Club and the “Bulgaria” Chamber Hall in Sofia!
Tickets at EVENTIM.
Tickets at EVENTIM.
Festivals
29.10.2026 - 06.12.2026
Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch. ARCHITECTURE: (THE) POSSIBLE ART
Sofia Arsenal – Museum of Contemporary Art
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Exhibitions
20.10.2026 - 20.10.2027
THE WALL Vol. 7 Nevelin Ivanov I FEEL NOTHING ELSE BUT DISAPPOINTMENT
The 7th edition of “The Wall” presents the work of Nevelin Ivanov "I Feel Nothing Else but Disappointment".
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Exhibitions
16.06.2026 - 16.06.2027
Temporary Exhibition New Acquisitions
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
12.02.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Copper - Ancient and Modern"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
11.04.2025 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Minerals and Colorful Creatures. Drawings by Nature"
The Minerals of Bulgaria exposition has been expanded with a new theme: Unique mineral finds from Bulgaria, a project financed by the Ministry of culture. In 6 display cases, minerals with the most beautiful crystals, rare colors and shapes are exhibited, selected for tens of years by hundreds of geologists and collectors from all over Bulgaria.
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
01.04.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Natural Art from Chalcedony"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
01.01.2023 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Smart Minerals for Smartphones"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
22.10.2026 - 20.11.2026
VERA NEDKOVA – KIRIL TSONEV ENCOUNTERS
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev belonged to the generation of artists who, during the 1930s, changed the face of Bulgarian plastic culture infusing it with a modern European spirit. The profound bond between them represented one of the most significant collegial and creative friendships in Bulgarian art of that period. Surviving memoirs, writings, and documents attest to their outstanding culture and erudition, through
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
Exhibitions
11.11.2026 - 14.11.2026
Business Events
10.12.2025 - 30.01.2027
Zahari Zograph Immersive Exhibition
The National Gallery presents one of the most iconic figures in the history of Bulgarian art – Zahari Zograph. This first immersive exhibition introduces a new way of experiencing the masterpieces of the the museum’s collection. Harnessing new technologies, the 20-minute project, created by Senzor Studio, brings his religious and secular masterpieces to life, revealing essential elements of his creative process.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
Exhibitions
13.11.2026
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
A Ballet based on Jane Austen’s novel
Duration 2:10 with 1 intermission
Main Hall
Children under 6 are not admitted to adult performances!
Duration 2:10 with 1 intermission
Main Hall
Children under 6 are not admitted to adult performances!
Music and Dance Events
11.11.2026 - 14.11.2026
DAIRY EXPO SOFIA
Milk and dairy products, additives, packaging, laboratory equipment and machines.
Business Events
18.09.2026 - 22.11.2026
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Memory Programme
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
Exhibitions
11.11.2026 - 15.11.2026
Business Events
28.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
HRISTO SIMEONOV (1935–2020) BETWEEN MATTER AND ANTIMATTER
Hristo Simeonov (1935–2020) belonged to the generation of artists whose creative searches unfolded amidst the evolving visual language of the second half of the 20th century. Within the context of Bulgarian art, this painter stood out for his idiosyncratic creative system—the result of long-standing research in physics, astrology, and cosmology—that existed at the intersection of painting, philosophy, science, and imagination.
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
Exhibitions
11.11.2026 - 14.11.2026
INTERFOOD & DRINK
Food and drinks, organic products, additives, machines and technologies.
Business Events
27.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
IVAN TOMANOV (1956−2017) - INSPIRATION
The ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund is visiting the National Gallery to present ‘Inspiration’, an exhibition by Karlovo artist Ivan Tomanov (1956–2017). The event is part of the programme marking the 45th anniversary of the Fund’s foundation.
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
Exhibitions
23.09.2026 - 18.11.2026
Piano Extravaganza Festival 2026
Within this year’s edition, Piano Extravaganza Festival will present four piano recitals and two chamber music concerts. We hope that our extraordinary artists and the variety of the repertoire for those 6 events would satisfy even the most sophisticated connoisseur. We would be delighted to welcome you at the wonderful venues of the Central Military Club and the “Bulgaria” Chamber Hall in Sofia!
Tickets at EVENTIM.
Tickets at EVENTIM.
Festivals
29.10.2026 - 06.12.2026
Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch. ARCHITECTURE: (THE) POSSIBLE ART
Sofia Arsenal – Museum of Contemporary Art
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Exhibitions
20.10.2026 - 20.10.2027
THE WALL Vol. 7 Nevelin Ivanov I FEEL NOTHING ELSE BUT DISAPPOINTMENT
The 7th edition of “The Wall” presents the work of Nevelin Ivanov "I Feel Nothing Else but Disappointment".
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Exhibitions
16.06.2026 - 16.06.2027
Temporary Exhibition New Acquisitions
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
12.02.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Copper - Ancient and Modern"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
11.04.2025 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Minerals and Colorful Creatures. Drawings by Nature"
The Minerals of Bulgaria exposition has been expanded with a new theme: Unique mineral finds from Bulgaria, a project financed by the Ministry of culture. In 6 display cases, minerals with the most beautiful crystals, rare colors and shapes are exhibited, selected for tens of years by hundreds of geologists and collectors from all over Bulgaria.
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
01.04.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Natural Art from Chalcedony"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
01.01.2023 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Smart Minerals for Smartphones"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
22.10.2026 - 20.11.2026
VERA NEDKOVA – KIRIL TSONEV ENCOUNTERS
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev belonged to the generation of artists who, during the 1930s, changed the face of Bulgarian plastic culture infusing it with a modern European spirit. The profound bond between them represented one of the most significant collegial and creative friendships in Bulgarian art of that period. Surviving memoirs, writings, and documents attest to their outstanding culture and erudition, through
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
Exhibitions
11.11.2026 - 14.11.2026
Business Events
10.12.2025 - 30.01.2027
Zahari Zograph Immersive Exhibition
The National Gallery presents one of the most iconic figures in the history of Bulgarian art – Zahari Zograph. This first immersive exhibition introduces a new way of experiencing the masterpieces of the the museum’s collection. Harnessing new technologies, the 20-minute project, created by Senzor Studio, brings his religious and secular masterpieces to life, revealing essential elements of his creative process.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
Exhibitions
14.11.2026
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
A Ballet based on Jane Austen’s novel
Duration 2:10 with 1 intermission
Main Hall
Children under 6 are not admitted to adult performances!
Duration 2:10 with 1 intermission
Main Hall
Children under 6 are not admitted to adult performances!
Music and Dance Events
18.09.2026 - 22.11.2026
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Memory Programme
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
Exhibitions
11.11.2026 - 15.11.2026
Business Events
28.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
HRISTO SIMEONOV (1935–2020) BETWEEN MATTER AND ANTIMATTER
Hristo Simeonov (1935–2020) belonged to the generation of artists whose creative searches unfolded amidst the evolving visual language of the second half of the 20th century. Within the context of Bulgarian art, this painter stood out for his idiosyncratic creative system—the result of long-standing research in physics, astrology, and cosmology—that existed at the intersection of painting, philosophy, science, and imagination.
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
Exhibitions
27.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
IVAN TOMANOV (1956−2017) - INSPIRATION
The ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund is visiting the National Gallery to present ‘Inspiration’, an exhibition by Karlovo artist Ivan Tomanov (1956–2017). The event is part of the programme marking the 45th anniversary of the Fund’s foundation.
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
Exhibitions
23.09.2026 - 18.11.2026
Piano Extravaganza Festival 2026
Within this year’s edition, Piano Extravaganza Festival will present four piano recitals and two chamber music concerts. We hope that our extraordinary artists and the variety of the repertoire for those 6 events would satisfy even the most sophisticated connoisseur. We would be delighted to welcome you at the wonderful venues of the Central Military Club and the “Bulgaria” Chamber Hall in Sofia!
Tickets at EVENTIM.
Tickets at EVENTIM.
Festivals
29.10.2026 - 06.12.2026
Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch. ARCHITECTURE: (THE) POSSIBLE ART
Sofia Arsenal – Museum of Contemporary Art
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Exhibitions
20.10.2026 - 20.10.2027
THE WALL Vol. 7 Nevelin Ivanov I FEEL NOTHING ELSE BUT DISAPPOINTMENT
The 7th edition of “The Wall” presents the work of Nevelin Ivanov "I Feel Nothing Else but Disappointment".
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Exhibitions
16.06.2026 - 16.06.2027
Temporary Exhibition New Acquisitions
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
12.02.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Copper - Ancient and Modern"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
11.04.2025 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Minerals and Colorful Creatures. Drawings by Nature"
The Minerals of Bulgaria exposition has been expanded with a new theme: Unique mineral finds from Bulgaria, a project financed by the Ministry of culture. In 6 display cases, minerals with the most beautiful crystals, rare colors and shapes are exhibited, selected for tens of years by hundreds of geologists and collectors from all over Bulgaria.
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
01.04.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Natural Art from Chalcedony"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
01.01.2023 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Smart Minerals for Smartphones"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
22.10.2026 - 20.11.2026
VERA NEDKOVA – KIRIL TSONEV ENCOUNTERS
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev belonged to the generation of artists who, during the 1930s, changed the face of Bulgarian plastic culture infusing it with a modern European spirit. The profound bond between them represented one of the most significant collegial and creative friendships in Bulgarian art of that period. Surviving memoirs, writings, and documents attest to their outstanding culture and erudition, through
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
Exhibitions
10.12.2025 - 30.01.2027
Zahari Zograph Immersive Exhibition
The National Gallery presents one of the most iconic figures in the history of Bulgarian art – Zahari Zograph. This first immersive exhibition introduces a new way of experiencing the masterpieces of the the museum’s collection. Harnessing new technologies, the 20-minute project, created by Senzor Studio, brings his religious and secular masterpieces to life, revealing essential elements of his creative process.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
Exhibitions
15.11.2026
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
A Ballet based on Jane Austen’s novel
Duration 2:10 with 1 intermission
Main Hall
Children under 6 are not admitted to adult performances!
Duration 2:10 with 1 intermission
Main Hall
Children under 6 are not admitted to adult performances!
Music and Dance Events
15.11.2026
Wild Symphony
Bulgaria Concert Hall
Conductor
Pavel Zlatarov
Ensemble
Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra
Program
Dan Brown
Wild Symphony
Conductor
Pavel Zlatarov
Ensemble
Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra
Program
Dan Brown
Wild Symphony
Music and Dance Events
18.09.2026 - 22.11.2026
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Memory Programme
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
Exhibitions
28.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
HRISTO SIMEONOV (1935–2020) BETWEEN MATTER AND ANTIMATTER
Hristo Simeonov (1935–2020) belonged to the generation of artists whose creative searches unfolded amidst the evolving visual language of the second half of the 20th century. Within the context of Bulgarian art, this painter stood out for his idiosyncratic creative system—the result of long-standing research in physics, astrology, and cosmology—that existed at the intersection of painting, philosophy, science, and imagination.
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
Exhibitions
27.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
IVAN TOMANOV (1956−2017) - INSPIRATION
The ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund is visiting the National Gallery to present ‘Inspiration’, an exhibition by Karlovo artist Ivan Tomanov (1956–2017). The event is part of the programme marking the 45th anniversary of the Fund’s foundation.
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
Exhibitions
23.09.2026 - 18.11.2026
Piano Extravaganza Festival 2026
Within this year’s edition, Piano Extravaganza Festival will present four piano recitals and two chamber music concerts. We hope that our extraordinary artists and the variety of the repertoire for those 6 events would satisfy even the most sophisticated connoisseur. We would be delighted to welcome you at the wonderful venues of the Central Military Club and the “Bulgaria” Chamber Hall in Sofia!
Tickets at EVENTIM.
Tickets at EVENTIM.
Festivals
29.10.2026 - 06.12.2026
Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch. ARCHITECTURE: (THE) POSSIBLE ART
Sofia Arsenal – Museum of Contemporary Art
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Exhibitions
20.10.2026 - 20.10.2027
THE WALL Vol. 7 Nevelin Ivanov I FEEL NOTHING ELSE BUT DISAPPOINTMENT
The 7th edition of “The Wall” presents the work of Nevelin Ivanov "I Feel Nothing Else but Disappointment".
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Exhibitions
16.06.2026 - 16.06.2027
Temporary Exhibition New Acquisitions
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
12.02.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Copper - Ancient and Modern"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
11.04.2025 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Minerals and Colorful Creatures. Drawings by Nature"
The Minerals of Bulgaria exposition has been expanded with a new theme: Unique mineral finds from Bulgaria, a project financed by the Ministry of culture. In 6 display cases, minerals with the most beautiful crystals, rare colors and shapes are exhibited, selected for tens of years by hundreds of geologists and collectors from all over Bulgaria.
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
01.04.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Natural Art from Chalcedony"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
01.01.2023 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Smart Minerals for Smartphones"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
22.10.2026 - 20.11.2026
VERA NEDKOVA – KIRIL TSONEV ENCOUNTERS
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev belonged to the generation of artists who, during the 1930s, changed the face of Bulgarian plastic culture infusing it with a modern European spirit. The profound bond between them represented one of the most significant collegial and creative friendships in Bulgarian art of that period. Surviving memoirs, writings, and documents attest to their outstanding culture and erudition, through
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
Exhibitions
10.12.2025 - 30.01.2027
Zahari Zograph Immersive Exhibition
The National Gallery presents one of the most iconic figures in the history of Bulgarian art – Zahari Zograph. This first immersive exhibition introduces a new way of experiencing the masterpieces of the the museum’s collection. Harnessing new technologies, the 20-minute project, created by Senzor Studio, brings his religious and secular masterpieces to life, revealing essential elements of his creative process.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
Exhibitions
18.09.2026 - 22.11.2026
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Memory Programme
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
Exhibitions
28.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
HRISTO SIMEONOV (1935–2020) BETWEEN MATTER AND ANTIMATTER
Hristo Simeonov (1935–2020) belonged to the generation of artists whose creative searches unfolded amidst the evolving visual language of the second half of the 20th century. Within the context of Bulgarian art, this painter stood out for his idiosyncratic creative system—the result of long-standing research in physics, astrology, and cosmology—that existed at the intersection of painting, philosophy, science, and imagination.
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
Exhibitions
27.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
IVAN TOMANOV (1956−2017) - INSPIRATION
The ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund is visiting the National Gallery to present ‘Inspiration’, an exhibition by Karlovo artist Ivan Tomanov (1956–2017). The event is part of the programme marking the 45th anniversary of the Fund’s foundation.
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
Exhibitions
17.11.2026
Investor Finance Forum
Financial forum touching on topics such as: economy, finance, trading, fintech, investments and the future of the financial and investment climate in Bulgaria.
Business Events
23.09.2026 - 18.11.2026
Piano Extravaganza Festival 2026
Within this year’s edition, Piano Extravaganza Festival will present four piano recitals and two chamber music concerts. We hope that our extraordinary artists and the variety of the repertoire for those 6 events would satisfy even the most sophisticated connoisseur. We would be delighted to welcome you at the wonderful venues of the Central Military Club and the “Bulgaria” Chamber Hall in Sofia!
Tickets at EVENTIM.
Tickets at EVENTIM.
Festivals
29.10.2026 - 06.12.2026
Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch. ARCHITECTURE: (THE) POSSIBLE ART
Sofia Arsenal – Museum of Contemporary Art
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Exhibitions
20.10.2026 - 20.10.2027
THE WALL Vol. 7 Nevelin Ivanov I FEEL NOTHING ELSE BUT DISAPPOINTMENT
The 7th edition of “The Wall” presents the work of Nevelin Ivanov "I Feel Nothing Else but Disappointment".
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Exhibitions
16.06.2026 - 16.06.2027
Temporary Exhibition New Acquisitions
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
12.02.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Copper - Ancient and Modern"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
11.04.2025 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Minerals and Colorful Creatures. Drawings by Nature"
The Minerals of Bulgaria exposition has been expanded with a new theme: Unique mineral finds from Bulgaria, a project financed by the Ministry of culture. In 6 display cases, minerals with the most beautiful crystals, rare colors and shapes are exhibited, selected for tens of years by hundreds of geologists and collectors from all over Bulgaria.
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
01.04.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Natural Art from Chalcedony"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
01.01.2023 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Smart Minerals for Smartphones"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
22.10.2026 - 20.11.2026
VERA NEDKOVA – KIRIL TSONEV ENCOUNTERS
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev belonged to the generation of artists who, during the 1930s, changed the face of Bulgarian plastic culture infusing it with a modern European spirit. The profound bond between them represented one of the most significant collegial and creative friendships in Bulgarian art of that period. Surviving memoirs, writings, and documents attest to their outstanding culture and erudition, through
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
Exhibitions
10.12.2025 - 30.01.2027
Zahari Zograph Immersive Exhibition
The National Gallery presents one of the most iconic figures in the history of Bulgarian art – Zahari Zograph. This first immersive exhibition introduces a new way of experiencing the masterpieces of the the museum’s collection. Harnessing new technologies, the 20-minute project, created by Senzor Studio, brings his religious and secular masterpieces to life, revealing essential elements of his creative process.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
Exhibitions
17.11.2026
GALA CONCERT
90 years since the birth of Nicola Ghiuselev
Main Hall
Children under 6 are not admitted to adult performances!
Main Hall
Children under 6 are not admitted to adult performances!
Music and Dance Events
18.09.2026 - 22.11.2026
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Memory Programme
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
Exhibitions
28.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
HRISTO SIMEONOV (1935–2020) BETWEEN MATTER AND ANTIMATTER
Hristo Simeonov (1935–2020) belonged to the generation of artists whose creative searches unfolded amidst the evolving visual language of the second half of the 20th century. Within the context of Bulgarian art, this painter stood out for his idiosyncratic creative system—the result of long-standing research in physics, astrology, and cosmology—that existed at the intersection of painting, philosophy, science, and imagination.
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
Exhibitions
27.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
IVAN TOMANOV (1956−2017) - INSPIRATION
The ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund is visiting the National Gallery to present ‘Inspiration’, an exhibition by Karlovo artist Ivan Tomanov (1956–2017). The event is part of the programme marking the 45th anniversary of the Fund’s foundation.
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
Exhibitions
23.09.2026 - 18.11.2026
Piano Extravaganza Festival 2026
Within this year’s edition, Piano Extravaganza Festival will present four piano recitals and two chamber music concerts. We hope that our extraordinary artists and the variety of the repertoire for those 6 events would satisfy even the most sophisticated connoisseur. We would be delighted to welcome you at the wonderful venues of the Central Military Club and the “Bulgaria” Chamber Hall in Sofia!
Tickets at EVENTIM.
Tickets at EVENTIM.
Festivals
29.10.2026 - 06.12.2026
Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch. ARCHITECTURE: (THE) POSSIBLE ART
Sofia Arsenal – Museum of Contemporary Art
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Exhibitions
20.10.2026 - 20.10.2027
THE WALL Vol. 7 Nevelin Ivanov I FEEL NOTHING ELSE BUT DISAPPOINTMENT
The 7th edition of “The Wall” presents the work of Nevelin Ivanov "I Feel Nothing Else but Disappointment".
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Exhibitions
16.06.2026 - 16.06.2027
Temporary Exhibition New Acquisitions
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
12.02.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Copper - Ancient and Modern"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
11.04.2025 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Minerals and Colorful Creatures. Drawings by Nature"
The Minerals of Bulgaria exposition has been expanded with a new theme: Unique mineral finds from Bulgaria, a project financed by the Ministry of culture. In 6 display cases, minerals with the most beautiful crystals, rare colors and shapes are exhibited, selected for tens of years by hundreds of geologists and collectors from all over Bulgaria.
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
01.04.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Natural Art from Chalcedony"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
01.01.2023 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Smart Minerals for Smartphones"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
22.10.2026 - 20.11.2026
VERA NEDKOVA – KIRIL TSONEV ENCOUNTERS
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev belonged to the generation of artists who, during the 1930s, changed the face of Bulgarian plastic culture infusing it with a modern European spirit. The profound bond between them represented one of the most significant collegial and creative friendships in Bulgarian art of that period. Surviving memoirs, writings, and documents attest to their outstanding culture and erudition, through
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
Exhibitions
10.12.2025 - 30.01.2027
Zahari Zograph Immersive Exhibition
The National Gallery presents one of the most iconic figures in the history of Bulgarian art – Zahari Zograph. This first immersive exhibition introduces a new way of experiencing the masterpieces of the the museum’s collection. Harnessing new technologies, the 20-minute project, created by Senzor Studio, brings his religious and secular masterpieces to life, revealing essential elements of his creative process.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
Exhibitions
18.11.2026
Piano Extravaganza Festival 2026 - Piano recital of Ewa Poblocka (Poland)
Works of Bach and Chopin.
In partnership with the Polish Institute.
In partnership with the Polish Institute.
Festivals
18.09.2026 - 22.11.2026
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Memory Programme
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
Exhibitions
28.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
HRISTO SIMEONOV (1935–2020) BETWEEN MATTER AND ANTIMATTER
Hristo Simeonov (1935–2020) belonged to the generation of artists whose creative searches unfolded amidst the evolving visual language of the second half of the 20th century. Within the context of Bulgarian art, this painter stood out for his idiosyncratic creative system—the result of long-standing research in physics, astrology, and cosmology—that existed at the intersection of painting, philosophy, science, and imagination.
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
Exhibitions
27.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
IVAN TOMANOV (1956−2017) - INSPIRATION
The ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund is visiting the National Gallery to present ‘Inspiration’, an exhibition by Karlovo artist Ivan Tomanov (1956–2017). The event is part of the programme marking the 45th anniversary of the Fund’s foundation.
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
Exhibitions
29.10.2026 - 06.12.2026
Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch. ARCHITECTURE: (THE) POSSIBLE ART
Sofia Arsenal – Museum of Contemporary Art
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Exhibitions
20.10.2026 - 20.10.2027
THE WALL Vol. 7 Nevelin Ivanov I FEEL NOTHING ELSE BUT DISAPPOINTMENT
The 7th edition of “The Wall” presents the work of Nevelin Ivanov "I Feel Nothing Else but Disappointment".
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Exhibitions
16.06.2026 - 16.06.2027
Temporary Exhibition New Acquisitions
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
12.02.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Copper - Ancient and Modern"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
11.04.2025 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Minerals and Colorful Creatures. Drawings by Nature"
The Minerals of Bulgaria exposition has been expanded with a new theme: Unique mineral finds from Bulgaria, a project financed by the Ministry of culture. In 6 display cases, minerals with the most beautiful crystals, rare colors and shapes are exhibited, selected for tens of years by hundreds of geologists and collectors from all over Bulgaria.
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
01.04.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Natural Art from Chalcedony"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
01.01.2023 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Smart Minerals for Smartphones"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
22.10.2026 - 20.11.2026
VERA NEDKOVA – KIRIL TSONEV ENCOUNTERS
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev belonged to the generation of artists who, during the 1930s, changed the face of Bulgarian plastic culture infusing it with a modern European spirit. The profound bond between them represented one of the most significant collegial and creative friendships in Bulgarian art of that period. Surviving memoirs, writings, and documents attest to their outstanding culture and erudition, through
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
Exhibitions
10.12.2025 - 30.01.2027
Zahari Zograph Immersive Exhibition
The National Gallery presents one of the most iconic figures in the history of Bulgarian art – Zahari Zograph. This first immersive exhibition introduces a new way of experiencing the masterpieces of the the museum’s collection. Harnessing new technologies, the 20-minute project, created by Senzor Studio, brings his religious and secular masterpieces to life, revealing essential elements of his creative process.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
Exhibitions
19.11.2026
Natalia Ponomarchuk Presents
Bulgaria Concert Hall
Conductor
Natalia Ponomarchuk
Soloist/s
Ilyun Bürkev
Ensemble
Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra
Program
Jean Sibelius
Finlandia, Symphonic poem, Op. 26
Camille Saint-Saëns
Piano Concerto No.2 in G minor, Op.22
Jean Sibelius
Symphony No. 4 in A minor, Op. 63
Conductor
Natalia Ponomarchuk
Soloist/s
Ilyun Bürkev
Ensemble
Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra
Program
Jean Sibelius
Finlandia, Symphonic poem, Op. 26
Camille Saint-Saëns
Piano Concerto No.2 in G minor, Op.22
Jean Sibelius
Symphony No. 4 in A minor, Op. 63
Music and Dance Events
18.09.2026 - 22.11.2026
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Memory Programme
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
Exhibitions
28.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
HRISTO SIMEONOV (1935–2020) BETWEEN MATTER AND ANTIMATTER
Hristo Simeonov (1935–2020) belonged to the generation of artists whose creative searches unfolded amidst the evolving visual language of the second half of the 20th century. Within the context of Bulgarian art, this painter stood out for his idiosyncratic creative system—the result of long-standing research in physics, astrology, and cosmology—that existed at the intersection of painting, philosophy, science, and imagination.
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
Exhibitions
27.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
IVAN TOMANOV (1956−2017) - INSPIRATION
The ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund is visiting the National Gallery to present ‘Inspiration’, an exhibition by Karlovo artist Ivan Tomanov (1956–2017). The event is part of the programme marking the 45th anniversary of the Fund’s foundation.
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
Exhibitions
29.10.2026 - 06.12.2026
Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch. ARCHITECTURE: (THE) POSSIBLE ART
Sofia Arsenal – Museum of Contemporary Art
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Exhibitions
20.10.2026 - 20.10.2027
THE WALL Vol. 7 Nevelin Ivanov I FEEL NOTHING ELSE BUT DISAPPOINTMENT
The 7th edition of “The Wall” presents the work of Nevelin Ivanov "I Feel Nothing Else but Disappointment".
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Exhibitions
16.06.2026 - 16.06.2027
Temporary Exhibition New Acquisitions
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
12.02.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Copper - Ancient and Modern"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
11.04.2025 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Minerals and Colorful Creatures. Drawings by Nature"
The Minerals of Bulgaria exposition has been expanded with a new theme: Unique mineral finds from Bulgaria, a project financed by the Ministry of culture. In 6 display cases, minerals with the most beautiful crystals, rare colors and shapes are exhibited, selected for tens of years by hundreds of geologists and collectors from all over Bulgaria.
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
01.04.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Natural Art from Chalcedony"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
01.01.2023 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Smart Minerals for Smartphones"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
22.10.2026 - 20.11.2026
VERA NEDKOVA – KIRIL TSONEV ENCOUNTERS
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev belonged to the generation of artists who, during the 1930s, changed the face of Bulgarian plastic culture infusing it with a modern European spirit. The profound bond between them represented one of the most significant collegial and creative friendships in Bulgarian art of that period. Surviving memoirs, writings, and documents attest to their outstanding culture and erudition, through
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
which they discovered and valued each other.
Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev, independently spent their youth in major European art centres—Vienna and Munich.
Free movement across Europe was a common occurrence for their generation. It played a pivotal role in shaping their world views, distancing them from traditional Bulgarian genre realism and grounding them in the spirit of modern Western plastic culture.
Vera Nedkova returned permanently to Bulgaria in 1934. After a long sojourn in Vienna, she found herself in a highly conservative and closed artistic milieu. The person in whom she recognised a genuine European stature and a modern mindset was the artist Kiril Tsonev. It was he who introduced her to artistic circles and assisted her in arranging her first solo exhibition in Sofia, held at the Preslav Gallery in 1934. It
was to him that Nedkova owed the foreword, translation, and preparation of the catalogue featuring Austrian reviews, as well as her acquaintance with Nikola Mavrodinov, a prominent figure in the Bulgarian art world.
Her close creative collaboration with Kiril Tsonev proved pivotal. Recognising her exceptional talent and European expression, he invited her that same year to join the Society of New Artists, the most progressive association in 1930s Bulgaria.
Their encounter, commencing with a collegial support for a young artist’s debut, evolved into a partnership between two creators whose talent and modern outlook shaped the trajectory of Bulgarian painting for a long period of time.
Having long since won the acclaim of both the public and critics, the art of Vera Nedkova and Kiril Tsonev has made a significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE, and rozali.com
Diana Draganova-Stier, exhibition curator
Exhibitions
10.12.2025 - 30.01.2027
Zahari Zograph Immersive Exhibition
The National Gallery presents one of the most iconic figures in the history of Bulgarian art – Zahari Zograph. This first immersive exhibition introduces a new way of experiencing the masterpieces of the the museum’s collection. Harnessing new technologies, the 20-minute project, created by Senzor Studio, brings his religious and secular masterpieces to life, revealing essential elements of his creative process.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
Exhibitions
18.09.2026 - 22.11.2026
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Memory Programme
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
Exhibitions
28.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
HRISTO SIMEONOV (1935–2020) BETWEEN MATTER AND ANTIMATTER
Hristo Simeonov (1935–2020) belonged to the generation of artists whose creative searches unfolded amidst the evolving visual language of the second half of the 20th century. Within the context of Bulgarian art, this painter stood out for his idiosyncratic creative system—the result of long-standing research in physics, astrology, and cosmology—that existed at the intersection of painting, philosophy, science, and imagination.
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
Exhibitions
27.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
IVAN TOMANOV (1956−2017) - INSPIRATION
The ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund is visiting the National Gallery to present ‘Inspiration’, an exhibition by Karlovo artist Ivan Tomanov (1956–2017). The event is part of the programme marking the 45th anniversary of the Fund’s foundation.
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
Exhibitions
29.10.2026 - 06.12.2026
Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch. ARCHITECTURE: (THE) POSSIBLE ART
Sofia Arsenal – Museum of Contemporary Art
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Exhibitions
20.10.2026 - 20.10.2027
THE WALL Vol. 7 Nevelin Ivanov I FEEL NOTHING ELSE BUT DISAPPOINTMENT
The 7th edition of “The Wall” presents the work of Nevelin Ivanov "I Feel Nothing Else but Disappointment".
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Exhibitions
16.06.2026 - 16.06.2027
Temporary Exhibition New Acquisitions
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
12.02.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Copper - Ancient and Modern"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
11.04.2025 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Minerals and Colorful Creatures. Drawings by Nature"
The Minerals of Bulgaria exposition has been expanded with a new theme: Unique mineral finds from Bulgaria, a project financed by the Ministry of culture. In 6 display cases, minerals with the most beautiful crystals, rare colors and shapes are exhibited, selected for tens of years by hundreds of geologists and collectors from all over Bulgaria.
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
01.04.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Natural Art from Chalcedony"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
01.01.2023 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Smart Minerals for Smartphones"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
10.12.2025 - 30.01.2027
Zahari Zograph Immersive Exhibition
The National Gallery presents one of the most iconic figures in the history of Bulgarian art – Zahari Zograph. This first immersive exhibition introduces a new way of experiencing the masterpieces of the the museum’s collection. Harnessing new technologies, the 20-minute project, created by Senzor Studio, brings his religious and secular masterpieces to life, revealing essential elements of his creative process.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
Exhibitions
21.11.2026
Musical Adventures
Bulgaria Chamber Hall
Participant/s
Devora Krumova
David Krumov
Beloslava Staykova
Boris Papazov
Ensemble
Sofia Quartet
Participant/s
Devora Krumova
David Krumov
Beloslava Staykova
Boris Papazov
Ensemble
Sofia Quartet
Music and Dance Events
18.09.2026 - 22.11.2026
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Memory Programme
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
DECHKO UZUNOV/IVAN PENKOV – DIRECTIONS
Opening: September 18, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition Dechko Uzunov/Ivan Penkov: Directions is part of the Memory Programme at the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, a branch of the Sofia City Art Gallery, which aims to contribute to raising awareness of the life and work of Dechko Uzunov by presenting research-based exhibitions that reveal different aspects of his oeuvre through artists who were part of his journey. This exhibition showcases the different paths taken by two fellow townsmen and friends during the interwar period.
In 1919, Ivan Penkov and Dechko Uzunov enrolled at the State School of Drawing; that same year, Uzunov painted a portrait of his friend that poked fun at his fascination with folk art. Three years later, the two organised a joint exhibition in Sofia to fund their studies at the Munich Art Academy. The young artists’ exhibition was noticed by Joseph Herbst, who wrote:
“Now, on the occasion of their departure abroad, the two artists had exhibited most of their works, from which their strong talents could be seen quite well. Dechko Uzunov promises to develop most in portrait painting. [...] Ivan Penkov is primarily a decorator with a strong sense of composition and a keen sensitivity to line” (J.H., Razvigor, April 1, 1922, no. 60, p. 4).
In an ironic twist of fate, the older of the two, Penkov, would go on to graduate from the Academy of Art under Prof. Uzunov. In 1939, with Uzonov’s active support, Ivan Penkov won the competition for a permanent teaching position in decorative art.
The selected works invite us to seek similarities amidst the differences between these two constantly experimenting artists during the period when Bulgarian visual arts were coming of age.
Presented in this exhibition are pieces from the collections of the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery, the Kazanlak Art Gallery, the Central State Archives, and private collections.
The exhibition also features the film Ivan Penkov: The Crossed-Out Classic (Bulgarian National Television, 2006), by screenwriter: Oskar Kristanov; cinematographer: Yaroslav Yachev; directors: Oskar Kristanov and Kosta Bikov; sound engineer: Petar Yosifov; music arrangement: Georgi (Johnny) Penkov. Duration: 48 min.
Exhibitions
28.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
HRISTO SIMEONOV (1935–2020) BETWEEN MATTER AND ANTIMATTER
Hristo Simeonov (1935–2020) belonged to the generation of artists whose creative searches unfolded amidst the evolving visual language of the second half of the 20th century. Within the context of Bulgarian art, this painter stood out for his idiosyncratic creative system—the result of long-standing research in physics, astrology, and cosmology—that existed at the intersection of painting, philosophy, science, and imagination.
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
Exhibitions
27.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
IVAN TOMANOV (1956−2017) - INSPIRATION
The ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund is visiting the National Gallery to present ‘Inspiration’, an exhibition by Karlovo artist Ivan Tomanov (1956–2017). The event is part of the programme marking the 45th anniversary of the Fund’s foundation.
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
Exhibitions
29.10.2026 - 06.12.2026
Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch. ARCHITECTURE: (THE) POSSIBLE ART
Sofia Arsenal – Museum of Contemporary Art
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Exhibitions
20.10.2026 - 20.10.2027
THE WALL Vol. 7 Nevelin Ivanov I FEEL NOTHING ELSE BUT DISAPPOINTMENT
The 7th edition of “The Wall” presents the work of Nevelin Ivanov "I Feel Nothing Else but Disappointment".
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Exhibitions
16.06.2026 - 16.06.2027
Temporary Exhibition New Acquisitions
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
12.02.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Copper - Ancient and Modern"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
11.04.2025 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Minerals and Colorful Creatures. Drawings by Nature"
The Minerals of Bulgaria exposition has been expanded with a new theme: Unique mineral finds from Bulgaria, a project financed by the Ministry of culture. In 6 display cases, minerals with the most beautiful crystals, rare colors and shapes are exhibited, selected for tens of years by hundreds of geologists and collectors from all over Bulgaria.
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
01.04.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Natural Art from Chalcedony"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
01.01.2023 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Smart Minerals for Smartphones"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
10.12.2025 - 30.01.2027
Zahari Zograph Immersive Exhibition
The National Gallery presents one of the most iconic figures in the history of Bulgarian art – Zahari Zograph. This first immersive exhibition introduces a new way of experiencing the masterpieces of the the museum’s collection. Harnessing new technologies, the 20-minute project, created by Senzor Studio, brings his religious and secular masterpieces to life, revealing essential elements of his creative process.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
Exhibitions
22.11.2026
Alexander Malofeev & Nayden Todorov
Bulgaria Concert Hall
Conductor
Nayden Todorov
Soloist/s
Alexander Malofeev
Peter Makedonski
Ensemble
Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra
Program
Dmitri Shostakovich
Concerto for Piano and Orchesta No.1, (Piano, Trumpet and Strings) in C minor, Op. 35
Dmitri Shostakovich
Chamber Symphony for Strings in C Minor, Op. 110a
Conductor
Nayden Todorov
Soloist/s
Alexander Malofeev
Peter Makedonski
Ensemble
Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra
Program
Dmitri Shostakovich
Concerto for Piano and Orchesta No.1, (Piano, Trumpet and Strings) in C minor, Op. 35
Dmitri Shostakovich
Chamber Symphony for Strings in C Minor, Op. 110a
Music and Dance Events
28.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
HRISTO SIMEONOV (1935–2020) BETWEEN MATTER AND ANTIMATTER
Hristo Simeonov (1935–2020) belonged to the generation of artists whose creative searches unfolded amidst the evolving visual language of the second half of the 20th century. Within the context of Bulgarian art, this painter stood out for his idiosyncratic creative system—the result of long-standing research in physics, astrology, and cosmology—that existed at the intersection of painting, philosophy, science, and imagination.
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
Exhibitions
27.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
IVAN TOMANOV (1956−2017) - INSPIRATION
The ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund is visiting the National Gallery to present ‘Inspiration’, an exhibition by Karlovo artist Ivan Tomanov (1956–2017). The event is part of the programme marking the 45th anniversary of the Fund’s foundation.
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
Exhibitions
29.10.2026 - 06.12.2026
Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch. ARCHITECTURE: (THE) POSSIBLE ART
Sofia Arsenal – Museum of Contemporary Art
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Exhibitions
20.10.2026 - 20.10.2027
THE WALL Vol. 7 Nevelin Ivanov I FEEL NOTHING ELSE BUT DISAPPOINTMENT
The 7th edition of “The Wall” presents the work of Nevelin Ivanov "I Feel Nothing Else but Disappointment".
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Exhibitions
16.06.2026 - 16.06.2027
Temporary Exhibition New Acquisitions
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
12.02.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Copper - Ancient and Modern"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
11.04.2025 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Minerals and Colorful Creatures. Drawings by Nature"
The Minerals of Bulgaria exposition has been expanded with a new theme: Unique mineral finds from Bulgaria, a project financed by the Ministry of culture. In 6 display cases, minerals with the most beautiful crystals, rare colors and shapes are exhibited, selected for tens of years by hundreds of geologists and collectors from all over Bulgaria.
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
01.04.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Natural Art from Chalcedony"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
01.01.2023 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Smart Minerals for Smartphones"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
10.12.2025 - 30.01.2027
Zahari Zograph Immersive Exhibition
The National Gallery presents one of the most iconic figures in the history of Bulgarian art – Zahari Zograph. This first immersive exhibition introduces a new way of experiencing the masterpieces of the the museum’s collection. Harnessing new technologies, the 20-minute project, created by Senzor Studio, brings his religious and secular masterpieces to life, revealing essential elements of his creative process.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
Exhibitions
28.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
HRISTO SIMEONOV (1935–2020) BETWEEN MATTER AND ANTIMATTER
Hristo Simeonov (1935–2020) belonged to the generation of artists whose creative searches unfolded amidst the evolving visual language of the second half of the 20th century. Within the context of Bulgarian art, this painter stood out for his idiosyncratic creative system—the result of long-standing research in physics, astrology, and cosmology—that existed at the intersection of painting, philosophy, science, and imagination.
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
Exhibitions
27.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
IVAN TOMANOV (1956−2017) - INSPIRATION
The ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund is visiting the National Gallery to present ‘Inspiration’, an exhibition by Karlovo artist Ivan Tomanov (1956–2017). The event is part of the programme marking the 45th anniversary of the Fund’s foundation.
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
Exhibitions
29.10.2026 - 06.12.2026
Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch. ARCHITECTURE: (THE) POSSIBLE ART
Sofia Arsenal – Museum of Contemporary Art
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Exhibitions
20.10.2026 - 20.10.2027
THE WALL Vol. 7 Nevelin Ivanov I FEEL NOTHING ELSE BUT DISAPPOINTMENT
The 7th edition of “The Wall” presents the work of Nevelin Ivanov "I Feel Nothing Else but Disappointment".
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Exhibitions
16.06.2026 - 16.06.2027
Temporary Exhibition New Acquisitions
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
12.02.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Copper - Ancient and Modern"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
11.04.2025 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Minerals and Colorful Creatures. Drawings by Nature"
The Minerals of Bulgaria exposition has been expanded with a new theme: Unique mineral finds from Bulgaria, a project financed by the Ministry of culture. In 6 display cases, minerals with the most beautiful crystals, rare colors and shapes are exhibited, selected for tens of years by hundreds of geologists and collectors from all over Bulgaria.
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
01.04.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Natural Art from Chalcedony"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
01.01.2023 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Smart Minerals for Smartphones"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
10.12.2025 - 30.01.2027
Zahari Zograph Immersive Exhibition
The National Gallery presents one of the most iconic figures in the history of Bulgarian art – Zahari Zograph. This first immersive exhibition introduces a new way of experiencing the masterpieces of the the museum’s collection. Harnessing new technologies, the 20-minute project, created by Senzor Studio, brings his religious and secular masterpieces to life, revealing essential elements of his creative process.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
Exhibitions
24.11.2026
Music and Dance Events
24.11.2026
From the Song to the Musical
Bulgaria Concert Hall
Conductor
Mariya Valchanova
Ensemble
National Philharmonic Choir
About the event
Works by LYUBOMIR DENEV
Conductor
Mariya Valchanova
Ensemble
National Philharmonic Choir
About the event
Works by LYUBOMIR DENEV
Music and Dance Events
25.11.2026 - 26.11.2026
Balkan Entertainment and Gaming Expo (BEGE)
BEGE is among the leading events where industry professionals in the European region meet annually, including manufacturers and suppliers, land-based and online operators, affiliates, payment service providers, etc.
Business Events
28.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
HRISTO SIMEONOV (1935–2020) BETWEEN MATTER AND ANTIMATTER
Hristo Simeonov (1935–2020) belonged to the generation of artists whose creative searches unfolded amidst the evolving visual language of the second half of the 20th century. Within the context of Bulgarian art, this painter stood out for his idiosyncratic creative system—the result of long-standing research in physics, astrology, and cosmology—that existed at the intersection of painting, philosophy, science, and imagination.
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
Exhibitions
27.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
IVAN TOMANOV (1956−2017) - INSPIRATION
The ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund is visiting the National Gallery to present ‘Inspiration’, an exhibition by Karlovo artist Ivan Tomanov (1956–2017). The event is part of the programme marking the 45th anniversary of the Fund’s foundation.
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
Exhibitions
29.10.2026 - 06.12.2026
Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch. ARCHITECTURE: (THE) POSSIBLE ART
Sofia Arsenal – Museum of Contemporary Art
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Exhibitions
20.10.2026 - 20.10.2027
THE WALL Vol. 7 Nevelin Ivanov I FEEL NOTHING ELSE BUT DISAPPOINTMENT
The 7th edition of “The Wall” presents the work of Nevelin Ivanov "I Feel Nothing Else but Disappointment".
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Exhibitions
16.06.2026 - 16.06.2027
Temporary Exhibition New Acquisitions
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
12.02.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Copper - Ancient and Modern"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
11.04.2025 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Minerals and Colorful Creatures. Drawings by Nature"
The Minerals of Bulgaria exposition has been expanded with a new theme: Unique mineral finds from Bulgaria, a project financed by the Ministry of culture. In 6 display cases, minerals with the most beautiful crystals, rare colors and shapes are exhibited, selected for tens of years by hundreds of geologists and collectors from all over Bulgaria.
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
01.04.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Natural Art from Chalcedony"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
01.01.2023 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Smart Minerals for Smartphones"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
10.12.2025 - 30.01.2027
Zahari Zograph Immersive Exhibition
The National Gallery presents one of the most iconic figures in the history of Bulgarian art – Zahari Zograph. This first immersive exhibition introduces a new way of experiencing the masterpieces of the the museum’s collection. Harnessing new technologies, the 20-minute project, created by Senzor Studio, brings his religious and secular masterpieces to life, revealing essential elements of his creative process.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
Exhibitions
25.11.2026 - 26.11.2026
Balkan Entertainment and Gaming Expo (BEGE)
BEGE is among the leading events where industry professionals in the European region meet annually, including manufacturers and suppliers, land-based and online operators, affiliates, payment service providers, etc.
Business Events
28.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
HRISTO SIMEONOV (1935–2020) BETWEEN MATTER AND ANTIMATTER
Hristo Simeonov (1935–2020) belonged to the generation of artists whose creative searches unfolded amidst the evolving visual language of the second half of the 20th century. Within the context of Bulgarian art, this painter stood out for his idiosyncratic creative system—the result of long-standing research in physics, astrology, and cosmology—that existed at the intersection of painting, philosophy, science, and imagination.
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
Exhibitions
27.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
IVAN TOMANOV (1956−2017) - INSPIRATION
The ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund is visiting the National Gallery to present ‘Inspiration’, an exhibition by Karlovo artist Ivan Tomanov (1956–2017). The event is part of the programme marking the 45th anniversary of the Fund’s foundation.
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
Exhibitions
29.10.2026 - 06.12.2026
Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch. ARCHITECTURE: (THE) POSSIBLE ART
Sofia Arsenal – Museum of Contemporary Art
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Exhibitions
20.10.2026 - 20.10.2027
THE WALL Vol. 7 Nevelin Ivanov I FEEL NOTHING ELSE BUT DISAPPOINTMENT
The 7th edition of “The Wall” presents the work of Nevelin Ivanov "I Feel Nothing Else but Disappointment".
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Exhibitions
16.06.2026 - 16.06.2027
Temporary Exhibition New Acquisitions
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
12.02.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Copper - Ancient and Modern"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
11.04.2025 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Minerals and Colorful Creatures. Drawings by Nature"
The Minerals of Bulgaria exposition has been expanded with a new theme: Unique mineral finds from Bulgaria, a project financed by the Ministry of culture. In 6 display cases, minerals with the most beautiful crystals, rare colors and shapes are exhibited, selected for tens of years by hundreds of geologists and collectors from all over Bulgaria.
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
01.04.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Natural Art from Chalcedony"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
01.01.2023 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Smart Minerals for Smartphones"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
10.12.2025 - 30.01.2027
Zahari Zograph Immersive Exhibition
The National Gallery presents one of the most iconic figures in the history of Bulgarian art – Zahari Zograph. This first immersive exhibition introduces a new way of experiencing the masterpieces of the the museum’s collection. Harnessing new technologies, the 20-minute project, created by Senzor Studio, brings his religious and secular masterpieces to life, revealing essential elements of his creative process.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
Exhibitions
26.11.2026
Georgi Cherkin & Michael Zukernik
Bulgaria Concert Hall
Conductor
Michael Zukernik
Soloist/s
Georgi Cherkin
Program
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Overture from Opera "The Marriage of Figaro"
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Rondo "Alla Turca", arr. for Piano and String Orchestra by Georgi Cherkin
Ludwig van Beethoven
Sonata for Piano No.14, Op. 27 No.2 "The Moonlight Sonata" (arr. for Piano and Orchestra by Georgi Cherkin)
Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No.5 in C Minor, Op.67
Conductor
Michael Zukernik
Soloist/s
Georgi Cherkin
Program
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Overture from Opera "The Marriage of Figaro"
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Rondo "Alla Turca", arr. for Piano and String Orchestra by Georgi Cherkin
Ludwig van Beethoven
Sonata for Piano No.14, Op. 27 No.2 "The Moonlight Sonata" (arr. for Piano and Orchestra by Georgi Cherkin)
Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No.5 in C Minor, Op.67
Music and Dance Events
28.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
HRISTO SIMEONOV (1935–2020) BETWEEN MATTER AND ANTIMATTER
Hristo Simeonov (1935–2020) belonged to the generation of artists whose creative searches unfolded amidst the evolving visual language of the second half of the 20th century. Within the context of Bulgarian art, this painter stood out for his idiosyncratic creative system—the result of long-standing research in physics, astrology, and cosmology—that existed at the intersection of painting, philosophy, science, and imagination.
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
Exhibitions
27.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
IVAN TOMANOV (1956−2017) - INSPIRATION
The ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund is visiting the National Gallery to present ‘Inspiration’, an exhibition by Karlovo artist Ivan Tomanov (1956–2017). The event is part of the programme marking the 45th anniversary of the Fund’s foundation.
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
Exhibitions
29.10.2026 - 06.12.2026
Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch. ARCHITECTURE: (THE) POSSIBLE ART
Sofia Arsenal – Museum of Contemporary Art
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Exhibitions
20.10.2026 - 20.10.2027
THE WALL Vol. 7 Nevelin Ivanov I FEEL NOTHING ELSE BUT DISAPPOINTMENT
The 7th edition of “The Wall” presents the work of Nevelin Ivanov "I Feel Nothing Else but Disappointment".
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Exhibitions
16.06.2026 - 16.06.2027
Temporary Exhibition New Acquisitions
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
12.02.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Copper - Ancient and Modern"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
11.04.2025 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Minerals and Colorful Creatures. Drawings by Nature"
The Minerals of Bulgaria exposition has been expanded with a new theme: Unique mineral finds from Bulgaria, a project financed by the Ministry of culture. In 6 display cases, minerals with the most beautiful crystals, rare colors and shapes are exhibited, selected for tens of years by hundreds of geologists and collectors from all over Bulgaria.
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
01.04.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Natural Art from Chalcedony"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
01.01.2023 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Smart Minerals for Smartphones"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
10.12.2025 - 30.01.2027
Zahari Zograph Immersive Exhibition
The National Gallery presents one of the most iconic figures in the history of Bulgarian art – Zahari Zograph. This first immersive exhibition introduces a new way of experiencing the masterpieces of the the museum’s collection. Harnessing new technologies, the 20-minute project, created by Senzor Studio, brings his religious and secular masterpieces to life, revealing essential elements of his creative process.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
Exhibitions
28.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
HRISTO SIMEONOV (1935–2020) BETWEEN MATTER AND ANTIMATTER
Hristo Simeonov (1935–2020) belonged to the generation of artists whose creative searches unfolded amidst the evolving visual language of the second half of the 20th century. Within the context of Bulgarian art, this painter stood out for his idiosyncratic creative system—the result of long-standing research in physics, astrology, and cosmology—that existed at the intersection of painting, philosophy, science, and imagination.
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
Exhibitions
27.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
IVAN TOMANOV (1956−2017) - INSPIRATION
The ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund is visiting the National Gallery to present ‘Inspiration’, an exhibition by Karlovo artist Ivan Tomanov (1956–2017). The event is part of the programme marking the 45th anniversary of the Fund’s foundation.
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
Exhibitions
29.10.2026 - 06.12.2026
Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch. ARCHITECTURE: (THE) POSSIBLE ART
Sofia Arsenal – Museum of Contemporary Art
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Exhibitions
20.10.2026 - 20.10.2027
THE WALL Vol. 7 Nevelin Ivanov I FEEL NOTHING ELSE BUT DISAPPOINTMENT
The 7th edition of “The Wall” presents the work of Nevelin Ivanov "I Feel Nothing Else but Disappointment".
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Exhibitions
16.06.2026 - 16.06.2027
Temporary Exhibition New Acquisitions
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
12.02.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Copper - Ancient and Modern"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
11.04.2025 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Minerals and Colorful Creatures. Drawings by Nature"
The Minerals of Bulgaria exposition has been expanded with a new theme: Unique mineral finds from Bulgaria, a project financed by the Ministry of culture. In 6 display cases, minerals with the most beautiful crystals, rare colors and shapes are exhibited, selected for tens of years by hundreds of geologists and collectors from all over Bulgaria.
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
01.04.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Natural Art from Chalcedony"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
01.01.2023 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Smart Minerals for Smartphones"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
10.12.2025 - 30.01.2027
Zahari Zograph Immersive Exhibition
The National Gallery presents one of the most iconic figures in the history of Bulgarian art – Zahari Zograph. This first immersive exhibition introduces a new way of experiencing the masterpieces of the the museum’s collection. Harnessing new technologies, the 20-minute project, created by Senzor Studio, brings his religious and secular masterpieces to life, revealing essential elements of his creative process.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
Exhibitions
28.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
HRISTO SIMEONOV (1935–2020) BETWEEN MATTER AND ANTIMATTER
Hristo Simeonov (1935–2020) belonged to the generation of artists whose creative searches unfolded amidst the evolving visual language of the second half of the 20th century. Within the context of Bulgarian art, this painter stood out for his idiosyncratic creative system—the result of long-standing research in physics, astrology, and cosmology—that existed at the intersection of painting, philosophy, science, and imagination.
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
Exhibitions
27.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
IVAN TOMANOV (1956−2017) - INSPIRATION
The ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund is visiting the National Gallery to present ‘Inspiration’, an exhibition by Karlovo artist Ivan Tomanov (1956–2017). The event is part of the programme marking the 45th anniversary of the Fund’s foundation.
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
Exhibitions
29.10.2026 - 06.12.2026
Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch. ARCHITECTURE: (THE) POSSIBLE ART
Sofia Arsenal – Museum of Contemporary Art
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Exhibitions
20.10.2026 - 20.10.2027
THE WALL Vol. 7 Nevelin Ivanov I FEEL NOTHING ELSE BUT DISAPPOINTMENT
The 7th edition of “The Wall” presents the work of Nevelin Ivanov "I Feel Nothing Else but Disappointment".
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Exhibitions
16.06.2026 - 16.06.2027
Temporary Exhibition New Acquisitions
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
12.02.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Copper - Ancient and Modern"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
11.04.2025 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Minerals and Colorful Creatures. Drawings by Nature"
The Minerals of Bulgaria exposition has been expanded with a new theme: Unique mineral finds from Bulgaria, a project financed by the Ministry of culture. In 6 display cases, minerals with the most beautiful crystals, rare colors and shapes are exhibited, selected for tens of years by hundreds of geologists and collectors from all over Bulgaria.
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
01.04.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Natural Art from Chalcedony"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
01.01.2023 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Smart Minerals for Smartphones"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
10.12.2025 - 30.01.2027
Zahari Zograph Immersive Exhibition
The National Gallery presents one of the most iconic figures in the history of Bulgarian art – Zahari Zograph. This first immersive exhibition introduces a new way of experiencing the masterpieces of the the museum’s collection. Harnessing new technologies, the 20-minute project, created by Senzor Studio, brings his religious and secular masterpieces to life, revealing essential elements of his creative process.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
Exhibitions
29.11.2026
Music and Dance Events
29.11.2026
Wiener Symphoniker
Bulgaria Concert Hall
Conductor
Petr Popelka
Soloist/s
Mao Fujita
Ensemble
Wiener Symphoniker
Program
Veselin Stoyanov
Festive Overture
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No.21 in C Dur K.467
Franz Schubert
Symphony No.9 in C Major
Conductor
Petr Popelka
Soloist/s
Mao Fujita
Ensemble
Wiener Symphoniker
Program
Veselin Stoyanov
Festive Overture
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No.21 in C Dur K.467
Franz Schubert
Symphony No.9 in C Major
Music and Dance Events
28.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
HRISTO SIMEONOV (1935–2020) BETWEEN MATTER AND ANTIMATTER
Hristo Simeonov (1935–2020) belonged to the generation of artists whose creative searches unfolded amidst the evolving visual language of the second half of the 20th century. Within the context of Bulgarian art, this painter stood out for his idiosyncratic creative system—the result of long-standing research in physics, astrology, and cosmology—that existed at the intersection of painting, philosophy, science, and imagination.
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
The exhibition, ‘Between Matter and Antimatter’, features a selection of more than 50 works produced over a span of five decades. These range from still lifes, interiors, portraits, and landscapes—through which the artist maintained his connection to reality—to his magnum opus: Pariorealism.
In his earlier works, objects, light and space are rendered with precision, while the ordinary is transformed into an avenue for exploring the relationship between man and the surrounding world. The landscapes he produced throughout his life, reveal both nature and the urban environment as constant sources of inspiration. Seeking a novel artistic direction in the late 1970s, the artist formulated the concept of Pariorealism. Utilising the airbrush, employing unconventional spatial compositions, and engaging with ideas regarding rhythm, matter, and the Universe, he constructed images that transcended the established laws of
physical reality.
In the history of Bulgarian art, Hristo Simeonov’s figure is closely linked to sci-fi artists such as Stefan Lefterov, Vasil Ivanov, Tekla Aleksieva, and Dimitar Yankov.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Maria Kodinova, National Gallery
Exhibitions
27.10.2026 - 31.12.2026
IVAN TOMANOV (1956−2017) - INSPIRATION
The ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund is visiting the National Gallery to present ‘Inspiration’, an exhibition by Karlovo artist Ivan Tomanov (1956–2017). The event is part of the programme marking the 45th anniversary of the Fund’s foundation.
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
The exhibition features some 20 sculptures and over ten drawings by the artist, as well as a portrait of him by painter Dimitar Lalev. The exhibits include a version of the composition, ‘Memory’ (2004), which was specially commissioned by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, where it is kept to this day.
Ivan Tomanov graduated from the Secondary School of Arts in Sofia in 1974, and acquired a degree in Sculpture at the National Academy of Arts in 1983, under Prof. Boris Gondov.
Art historian and exhibition curator Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov said about the artist: ‘We should stress that, alongside its extraordinary breadth, Ivan Tomanov’s oeuvre reveals a reflexive insight into the
issues of contemporary art—a quality rarely encountered in these latitudes.’
‘His exhibition, “Untitled: Drawings, Simulacra” (Karlovo, 2015; Sofia, 2016) still remains unique in the history of our culture. Above all by the fact that it dramatises the issue of expendability of the artist and the end of art itself. Without passing definitive judgments on these issues, Ivan Tomanov imposes something fundamental that is also valid for his entire oeuvre: works of art are not intended for ephemeral admiration; rather, they demand a certain tension in the process of perception, which enkindles reflections on their conception, maturation, and plastic creation. Whence, the primary focus of his creative inspiration: not so much to
appeal to the public as it is to make it [people] think…’
Media partner: BТА / Bulgarian News Agency.
Assoc. Prof. Boris Danailov
Exhibitions
29.10.2026 - 06.12.2026
Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch. ARCHITECTURE: (THE) POSSIBLE ART
Sofia Arsenal – Museum of Contemporary Art
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
After his successive solo exhibitions in London, Paris, and Geneva, Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., now presents 27 projects at the Sofia Arsenal Museum gallery whose reconstruction was carried out to his design in 2011.
Immersive installations, videos, scale models, sketches, technical drawings, and photographic documents showcase the diversity of his architectural oeuvre—ranging from theatres and sports facilities to philharmonic and opera houses, public spaces, and private residential buildings. A significant number of these projects have already been completed, or are currently under construction.
The exhibition also includes panels of architectural sculptures—or architectons—such as ‘Never, Never Land’, ‘Abode’, and the Monument to the Berlin Wall in Sofia. These works have previously been displayed in galleries, museums, and public spaces in Lisbon, Prague, Brussels, London, Paris, and Sofia.
The exhibition serves as an original architectural forum, with a rich accompanying programme, which includes lectures by internationally acclaimed architects, such as Dante O. Benini from Milan, Italy, and Prof. Octavio Mestre from Barcelona, Spain, and Arch. Fani Danadjieva Hansen, USA.
In its entirety, the exhibition comprehends architecture through its most up-to-date manifestations and challenges.
Furthermore, the topic of ‘architecture: (the) possible art’ is addressed—especially today, when, in the public spaces in Bulgaria, it is frequently perceived merely as square meters of construction for sale. This strips
it of its fundamental function and mission: to create a high-quality environment while showing respect for nature, cultural memory, and the human being.
This is the creative, the lecturer’s stance and creed that Prof. Boyko Kadinov, D.Arch., has consistently upheld throughout his long professional career.
The exhibition was made possible with the creative and organisational support of UACEG, INSTITUTO CERVANTES, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, ОСА 2000, MP-STUDIO, BULGED, ROCA LAUFFEN, PHOENIX and KONICA MINOLTA.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio, ELLE magazine, and rozali.com.
Nadezhda Dzhakova, Head of SAMCA
Exhibitions
20.10.2026 - 20.10.2027
THE WALL Vol. 7 Nevelin Ivanov I FEEL NOTHING ELSE BUT DISAPPOINTMENT
The 7th edition of “The Wall” presents the work of Nevelin Ivanov "I Feel Nothing Else but Disappointment".
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
The long-term project of the National Gallery, launched in 2020, aims to promote the work of contemporary masters of mural painting, graffiti artists and conceptual painters. On an especially designated wall in the atrium of Kvadrat 500 (with the impressive dimensions of 240 x 2,700 cm), the artists create monumental works in harmony with the sculptures of Lyubomir Dalchev, Alexander Dyakov, Pavel Koychev, Krum Damyanov, Galin Malakchiev, etc., which are part of the representative museum exhibition. In 2022, the partnership with Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation begins, which has been ongoing for five years. With their support a complete renovation was carried out, including the construction of the decorative panel, which allows the selected artists greater freedom in the realisation of their ideas.
Act I: “Dear colleagues,
With a few short sentences I will turn my triumph into failure.”
This text from his site-specific installation Nevelin Ivanov writes on plexiglass panels with special ropes. Periodically, the artist will add a new sentence, creating a complete text. The sentences will be executed by the artist in his signature technique of wall embroidery, shown for the first time in the work “I Wanted to Become an Artist, But I Became a Bad Boy” in the exhibition of the nominées for the 2025 Baza Contemporary Art Award at the Sofia City Art Gallery.
Nevelin Ivanov (b. 2002) is a Bulgarian visual artist. The multidisciplinary approach and undisguised exhibitionism with which he sometimes explores himself, his corporeality, desires and obsessive thoughts make his works highly recognisable. His solo exhibitions: “If I Had a Pig, I Would Name It Nevo” (2023), “Nevo's Bedroom” (2024), “I Will Stop Being an Artist When It Starts to Snow Indoors” (2025), etc. demonstrate his signature expressiveness and place him among the most interesting young artists of our time.
“The Wall” is realised with the support of Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
Exhibitions
16.06.2026 - 16.06.2027
Temporary Exhibition New Acquisitions
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
12.02.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Copper - Ancient and Modern"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
11.04.2025 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Minerals and Colorful Creatures. Drawings by Nature"
The Minerals of Bulgaria exposition has been expanded with a new theme: Unique mineral finds from Bulgaria, a project financed by the Ministry of culture. In 6 display cases, minerals with the most beautiful crystals, rare colors and shapes are exhibited, selected for tens of years by hundreds of geologists and collectors from all over Bulgaria.
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets
Exhibitions
01.04.2026 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Natural Art from Chalcedony"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
01.01.2023 - 31.12.2026
Temporary exhibition "Smart Minerals for Smartphones"
from 10:00 to 18:00 o'clock
Entrance with museum tickets.
Entrance with museum tickets.
Exhibitions
10.12.2025 - 30.01.2027
Zahari Zograph Immersive Exhibition
The National Gallery presents one of the most iconic figures in the history of Bulgarian art – Zahari Zograph. This first immersive exhibition introduces a new way of experiencing the masterpieces of the the museum’s collection. Harnessing new technologies, the 20-minute project, created by Senzor Studio, brings his religious and secular masterpieces to life, revealing essential elements of his creative process.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
The initiative promotes Bulgarian Revival аrt, a period characterized by economic, social, and cultural growth, closely tied to the pursuit of ecclesiastical and national independence. The period traces its origins to the mid-18th century, when Paisius of Hilendar wrote Istoriya Slavyanobulgarskaya (History of the Slavs and Bulgarians) in 1762—which profoundly shaped the spiritual awakening of the population and contributed significantly to the development of national consciousness…
The exhibition features a selection of icons, drawings, copies, letters, documents, and secular portraits from the artist’s early period. It also showcases a substantive collection of murals, ranging from his earliest works—created in 1838 for the Chapel of St John the Baptist at the Church of the Holy Virgin—Annunciation in Asenovgrad—to what is considered as his “final masterpiece,” the murals adorning the narthex of the Great Lavra Monastery on Mount Athos, completed between 1851 and 1852.
Zahari Zograph emerged as a defining figure of Bulgarian Revival art. His relentlessly inquisitive artistic spirit was ahead of its era, and his extensive body of work reflects the vitality of the approaching modern age, the artistry of traditional imagery, the strength of line, and the emotive power of color.
The project is realised with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria under the Creation programme 2024.
Media partners: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency and SOF Connect.
Exhibitions