Jenny Ivanova – an artist.
Over the past five years, I keep returning to the human face. I am drawn to that icon-like gaze that seems to follow you no matter where you stand – one that belongs not to the eyes, but to consciousness. My “personas” exist in a space where time has stopped long enough for one to hear one’s own silence.
And yet, in a world of billions of images, why do I still paint the face today?
Perhaps because the face is the first place where we look for the other. And painting still has the power to slow the gaze – to give back the time needed not only to look, but to contemplate. I believe it is precisely in this slowing that we begin to see not only the painting, but ourselves.
Education
2016 specialty: Set design, National Academy of Arts Sofia, Bulgaria /MA/;
2014 specialty: Mural Painting, National Academy of Arts Sofia, Bulgaria; /BA/;
2009 specialty: Icon Painting, National High School for Arts ”D.Dobrovich” Sliven, Bulgaria.
From 2018 Member of the Union of Bulgarian Artists (SBH).
Residencies
2016 – Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris, France.
Solo exhibitions
2026 – “Intimacy”, “Velmar” Jewellry House, Sofia, Bulgaria; (upcoming)
2024 – “Anthropology of the figure”, “The Residence Exclusive Club“, Sofia, Bulgaria;
2023 – “Face to face”, “Nuance” Art Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria;
2023 – “PERSONA”, “Velmar” Jewellry House, Sofia, Bulgaria.
Awards
2021 – Young Painter Prize, Montana, Bulgaria;
2016 – Award for Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris of National Academy of Arts Sofia.
Professional achievements
2026
– Participation in exhibition “LOST FOREST” II, “Doza” Art Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria;
– Poster exhibition, “Altruist” cafe, Sofia, Bulgaria.
2025
– Featured in the GLUH #2: PARALLEL 42 issue – London Launch, Photobook Café, London;
– Participation in the 16th “Evening of the Virtues,” organized by the For Our Children Foundation, Sofia Event Center, Sofia;
– Participation in exhibition “Babele” III, “Spazio Musa” Art Gallery, Torino, Italia;
– Exhibition in the “Na Kafe” studio, Nova TV.
2024
– Poster exhibition, “Altruist” cafe, Sofia, Bulgaria;
– Participation in collective exhibition “10 years Nuance Gallery”, “Nuance” Art Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria.
2023
– Participation in exhibition “Art”, Art gallery “Sirak Skitnik”, Sliven, Bulgaria;
– Participation in exhibition – painting contest for young authors by Orbico Bulgaria, Nova Art Space, Sofia;
– Participation in National exhibition – contest for painting and sculpture YОUNG BULGARIAN ARTISTS, exibition hall “Rayko Aleksiev”, Sofia, Bulgaria;
– Participation in exhibition “Monumental-Easel Painting” – 45 Years of Monumental Arts, SBH, Sofia, Bulgaria.
2022
– Participation in exhibition for young authors “Next 25” Art gallery “Vidima”, Sevlievo, Bulgaria;
– Participation in National bienale for modern art “Friend of sea” Art gallery- ”Petko Zagorski”, Burgas, Bulgaria;
– Participation in exhibition “Spring salon” Art gallery ”Hristo Tsokev”, Gabrovo, Bulgaria.
2021
– Рainting for the studio of the TV show “Wanted” aired on BTV;
– Participation in exhibition “The music in line, shape and color”II Art gallery ”May”, Sliven, Bulgaria;
– Participation in exhibition “Bridges” Art gallery ”Hristo Tsokev”, Gabrovo, Bulgaria;
– Participation in exhibition “Art” Art gallery ‘Sirak Skitnik”, Sliven, Bulgaria.