On the 143^rd birth anniversary of foremost Bulgarian painter Vladimir Dimitrov-the Master, an award ceremony will take place at the art gallery in the town of Kyustendil, at which the national prize for painting for 2024 will be awarded.

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Five prominent artists have been nominated for the award – Bogdan Alexandrov, Velin Dinev, Krasimir Karabadjakov, Krasimir Rusev and Nikolay Yanakiev. As is the tradition, the name of the award-winner is announced at a ceremony at the gallery in Kyustendil on 1 February, the birthday of Vladimir Dimitrov-the Master.

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On the same day an exhibition opens in Kyustendil, featuring works by last year’s holder of the national painting award – Dimitar Cholakov from the town of Popovo, who has more than 50 solo exhibitions in Bulgaria and abroad to his name.

The painting prize, named after Vladimir Dimitrov-the Master, was first awarded in 1973, when the prize was established by the Union of Bulgarian Artists. By 1989 there had been 39 laureates, among them emblematic names like Zlatyu Boyadzhiev, Nenko Balkanski, Ilia Petrov, Genko Genkov, Milko Bozhkov. The tradition was shelved, but was reinstated in 2012, when the award went to Prof. Andrey Daniel (1952-2020). During the following years the prize has been awarded to Svilen Blazhev, Nikolay Maystorov, Stanislav Pamukchiev, Aneta Dragushanu and many more.

More:

• The Master Code – decoding the Bulgarian Madonna of painter Vladimir Dimitrov
• Paintings of Vladimir Dimitrov-The Master come to life in a digital project

Compiled by Gergana Mancheva

Translated and posted by Milena Daynova
Photos: BTA