Albena Vatcheva

Originally from Bulgaria, Albena settled in Normandy, France, 30 years ago. Trained as an architect and fluent in several languages, she immediately made her mark on the art world with her unexpected style and the quality of her paintings. A self-taught artist, she demonstrates an extraordinary sensitivity, born from her love of poetry, creating a prolific, original, and exceptionally elegant body of work.

Albena stands at the crossroads of diverse cultural influences: Greece, Egypt, India, Africa, Japan… regions of the world where storytelling is abundantly conveyed through imagery. Not to mention the impact Art Nouveau had on her. This singular artist's very particular style reflects a sensual and spiritual sensibility, the cultural sources of which she herself explains: “With the brushes of my childhood, I draw upon my memories and dreams of love. My subconscious memory follows the traces of my people, who have always sought, throughout years of difficult history, the joy of living and their roots in the Orthodox and mystical traditions of our ancestors."

My work is constantly evolving towards a symbiotic imagery of different cultures, legends, and mythologies: Persia, India, Egypt, Japan, Thrace, Byzantium Inspired by stained glass, Art Nouveau, and the fairy tales of my childhood, each painting is an "eternal shelter" for the best part of me – my youthful dreams – from this life and past lives.

What distinguishes Albena's incredible paintings is the oriental magic of her fabulous compositions, which convey captivating effects, achieved through undeniable technical mastery and a vibrant effusion of vivid colors. In this unsettling gallery of figures, the feminine element explodes in the elegant forms of refined eroticism. This talented Franco-Bulgarian artist brings an unexpected style to contemporary painting, the richness of which is rapidly establishing itself in the art world.

Albena has given her remarkable talent an imaginative expression, marked by tenderness and a rare poetic grace. She herself defines its fundamental origins: "The act of painting becomes a magnificent meditation. A journey into spirituality, lost tenderness, love – the substance that creates and unites."

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A professional artist for over 25 years, working in oil and India ink.
Diploma in Architecture, Sofia University of Architecture, 1992
Author of a book of poetry
Collaboration on the Fall 2017 and Spring 2019 collections - Dolcezza fashion house Montreal
Bronze medal, Salon des Artistes Français, Paris
Orne General Council Prize
Rouen Grand Prix

Exhibitions abroad:

New York, San Francisco, San Diego, Denver, Montreal, Vancouver, Shanghai, Monaco, Bulgaria, England, Switzerland, China, Qatar, Italy, Buenos Aires, Beirut, Majorca...

Main solo exhibitions in France:

In Search of Orpheus, Fontaine-Guérard Abbey, RADEPONT
Vascœuil Castle (With Dali)
Museum of the Grand Lodge of France, Paris
Montivilliers Abbey, Bonport Abbey, Mauregard Castle
Château Le Choiseul, Amboise

Main group exhibitions:

Superfine Art Fair San Francisco, Art Vancouver Canada, Denver Art Fair
Affordable Art Fair Milan, Art San Diego Usa
Sant'Antioco Biennial, Sardinia
Ningbo Art Museum, China - invited to represent Eastern European countries
Art'Monaco, Shanghai Art Fair
Salon of Official Painters of the Navy, Maritime Museum Paris
SAFADORE Fantastic Art Exhibition, invited by "The Heirs of DALI" - Mont-Dore Thermal Baths
Chimera International Festival of Visionary Arts and Sciences - Sedan Castle
Art in Capital, Grand Palais Paris
ARTCLUB Galleries, BARTOUX Galleries