| 1960 - Born, Sofia, Bulgaria
1990 - Immigrated to Canada
1991 to present - Operates and is co-owner of the "Garden Studio & Foundry"- an artist run sculpture studio and foundry in Logy Bay & Flatrock, NL, Canada
EDUCATION
1981-1986 - Academy of Fine Arts, Sofia, Bulgaria, B.F.A., M.F.A. (hon.)
1979-1981 - Bronze casting training, "Studio Arts Foundry", Sofia, Bulgaria
1974-1979 - National High School of Fine Arts, Sofia, Bulgaria, Diploma (hon.)
SELECTED AWARDS
2001 - "Artist of the Year Award" (all disciplines) - presented by the Newfoundland & Labrador Arts Council
1993-2000 - Seven - "Procurement Program of the Government of Newfoundland & Labrador Purchase Awards"
1994 & 2004 - "Manning Award" for Excellence in the Public Presentation of Historic Places.
1988 - Medal of Excellence at the International Biennale for small sculpture in Ravenna, Italy, awarded by the President of Italy
SELECTED GRANTS
2004 - CEDP Project Award
2002 - Andres Art Institute Grant, Brookline, New Hampshire, USA
2001 - Department of Foreign Affairs & International Trade, Arts Promotion Grant
2000 - Newtel-Arts Council Cultural Innovation Fund Grant
2000 - Canada Council Project Assistance to Visual Arts, Craft & Architecture Grant
1999 - Vermont Studio Center Residency Grant, Johnson, Vermont, USA
1999 - Festival of the Arts, Soiree 99 Project Grant
1998 - Cultural Industries Development Initiative Project Grant
1997 - Cultural Industries Development Initiative Research Grant
1995 - Department of Tourism & Culture Project Grant
1994-1997 - Three - Canada/Newfoundland Cooperation Agreement on Cultural Industries Project Grant
1994 - Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) Grant
1993-2002 - Twelve - Newfoundland & Labrador Arts Council Grants
FINE ARTS TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2002 - Visiting artist at Andres Art Institute, Brookline, New Hampshire, USA
2001 - Sculpture courses at L'Hirondelle, Soulignonnes, Charente-Maritime, France
2000 - Visiting artist at Grenfell Fine Arts College, Corner Brook, NL
1999 - Visiting artist at Sunbury Shores Art Centre, St. Andrews, New Brunswick
1994-1999 - Sculpture courses at the Newfoundland & Labrador Crafts Council's Clay Studio
1990-1992 - Instructor in sculpture & drawing at Memorial University, St. John's, NL, Canada
1993-present - Bronze casting courses & workshops at the "Garden Studio & Foundry"
1987-1990 - Professor at the National Crafts School, Sofia, Bulgaria
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS Ongoing - Exhibition of large outdoor sculptures at the "Boreal Sculpture Garden", Logy Bay NL, Canada
2003 - "Currents" group exhibitionat the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C., USA
2002 - Solo exhibition at the Newman's Vaults, St. John’s, NL, Canada
2002 - "Metal: 5 Views", group exhibition, Craft Council Gallery, St. John’s, NL, Canada
2002 - "Scattered Seeds", group exhibition at James Baird Gallery, St. John’s, NL, Canada
2001 - "Scattered Seeds", International group exhibition at the Gallery of the Union of Bulgarian Artists Sofia, Bulgaria
2001 - Two artists' exhibition at Michele Golia Gallery, Orvieto, Italy
2001 - "To Stretch the Night" - collaborative artist book with Elena Popova & Tara Bryan at Art Gallery of Newfoundland & Labrador, St. John's, NL, Canada
2000 - "Luben & Elena"- two artists' show at Cordell Taylor Gallery, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
2000 - Newfoundland Sculpture Symposium, Corner Brook, NL, Canada
1999 - Red Mill Gallery, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Vermont, USA
1999 - "Form & Substance" - outdoor installation at the Resource Centre for the Arts, St. John's, NL, Canada
1996 - "From the Earth, Fire & Water" - two artists' exhibition at the Art Gallery of Newfoundland & Labrador, St. John's, NL, Canada
1995 - "Skulptura Montreal 95" - International Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition at the Old Port of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
1994 - "Sculpture", Devon House Gallery, St. John’s, NL, Canada
1994 - "15 Years Later", invitational exhibition at the Ministry of Culture, Sofia, Bulgaria
1993 - "Recent Bronzes", solo exhibition at Christina Parker Fine Art Gallery, St. John's, NL, Canada
1990 - "Extinct Society Series", solo exhibition at Christina Parker Fine Art Gallery, St. John’s, NL Canada
1988 - 8th International Dante Biennale, Ravenna, Italy
1982-1990 - Participated in numerous regional & national exhibitions in Bulgaria
1985 - Group exhibition of six artists at the Zeit Gallery, Berlin, Germany
SELECTED PUBLIC ART COMMISSIONS 2004 - "The Trapper" Northwest River, NL, Canada
2004 - "The Embrace" St. John's International Airport, St. Johns, NL, Canada
2003 - "Harbourside Park Sculpture", St. John's, NL, Canada
2002 - "Meeting of Two Worlds" (collaboration with Richard Brixel) – unveiled by Her
Excellency the Governor General of Canada, Adrienne Clarkson, at L'Anse aux Meadows
UNESCO World Heritage Site, Newfoundland, Canada
2002 - "Bishop Spencer College Sculpture", St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada
2000 - "Caribou Memorial" Marystown, Newfoundland, Canada
1999 - "Aging time", 13 bronze & wood sculptures presented on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Newfoundland's Confederation with Canada
1997 - "The Ryan Premises Sculpture" - unveiled by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Bonavista, NL, Canada
1995 - "Coady Sculpture", Bay Bulls, NL, Canada
1995 - "Smallwood Sculpture", Gambo, NL, Canada
1992 - "Echoes of Valour", St. Lawrence, NL, Canada
1988 - "Four Elements", Shoumen, Bulgaria
1987 - "Pegasus", Silistra, Bulgaria
SELECTED MEDIA
2003 - "Beyond Ursa Major", 20 minute film, Ellie Yonova, Director/Producer
2002 - This Morning, interview, (national), CBC Radio, (May 20)
2002 - Arts Report (national), CBC Radio, (May 13)
2002 - Vaughn-Jackson, Mark, The Telegram, (May 8)
2001 - Porter, Stephanie, The Express, (November 6)
2001 - Vaughn-Jackson, Mark, The Telegram, (October 28)
2001 - BTV (Bulgarian Television), August 10
2001 - Arts Magazine, CBC Radio, February 17
2001 - Arts Magazine, CBC Radio, January 6
2000 - Brinkmann, Anna, Salt Lake City Weekly, (November 22)
2000 - Midday, CBC TV (national), (March 20)
2000 - Art Space, CBC TV, (March 10)
2000 - Arts Report (national), CBC Radio, (March 3)
1999 - Flash Art Magazine, March, April Issue
1998 - Arts Report (national), CBC Radio (interview), (March 13)
1997 - On the road again, CBC TV (national), (December 4)
1996 - Arts Magazine, CBC Radio, November 22
1995 - Duncan, Ann, "Art", The Gazette, Montreal, (June 23):G5
1995 - Gzowski, Peter, Morning side, CBC Radio, interview (November 15)
1993 - Wade, James, "Art Lines", The Telegram (November 28):20
1992 - Will, Gavin, The Globe & Mail, (April 21):A9
1991 - Wade, James, "Art Lines", The Telegram, (January 6)
MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS
International Sculpture Center, Washington, DC., USA
Visual Artists Newfoundland & Labrador/CARFAC
Procurement Program of the Government of Newfoundland & Labrador, juror
Provincial Arts & Letters Competition, juror
Canadian Red Cross, Regional Council Member
SELECTED COLLECTIONS, SPONSORS AND CLIENTS
Public Collection of the Province of Newfoundland & Labrador
Public Collection of the City of St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada
Provincial Gallery, Varna, Bulgaria
Provincial Gallery, Dobrich, Bulgaria
University of Dresden, Germany
Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada
Andres Art Institute, Brookline, New Hampshire, USA
Museum of the Academy of Fine Arts, Sofia, Bulgaria
Department of Canadian Heritage
Department of Tourism, Culture & Recreation
Historic Sites Association of Newfoundland & Labrador
Historica Foundation
Arriscraft International
Fortis Inc.
Anthony Insurance
St. Lawrence Heritage Society
Microsoft, Canada
Cabot 500 Corporation
ESSO Imperial Oil
Johnson Family Foundation
Aliant Telecom
Persona Cablevision
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