Georgi Lechev
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Georgi Lechev was born in 1949 in Varna. In 1975, he graduated in Graphic Art from St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo. His creative career has been marked by impressive achievements over the years. He has held over 100 solo exhibitions both in Bulgaria and internationally, including in Germany, France, Switzerland, the USA, and Japan. In 1982, he was awarded the National Graphic Art Prize named after Veselin Staykov, and in 1991, he received the Grand Prize at the International Graphic Biennale in Varna. He has participated in numerous international Graphic Art Biennales, such as those in Ljubljana, Slovenia (1995, 1985, 1983), Berlin, Germany (1991, 1989, 1987, 1986, 1984), Switzerland (1989, 1986, 1984), Biella, Italy (1987), Krakow, Poland (1986, 1985), Grand Palais in Paris, France (1985), Rijeka, Yugoslavia (1984), São Paulo, Brazil (1981), Baden-Baden, Germany (1980), and others. Among his achievements are numerous awards, including the Order of St. Cyril and St. Methodius, First Class, for outstanding contributions in the field of Culture and Art (2009); the Honorary Award at the First Graphic Art Biennale – Small Format in Cluj, Romania (1997); a Medal from the International Graphic Triennial in Cairo, Egypt (1995); the Grand Prix at the International Graphic Biennale in Varna, Bulgaria (1992); the Honorary Award at the Graphic Biennale in Friedrichstadt, Norway (1989); an award from Art Dialogue in Paris, France (1989); awards from the Graphic Biennale in Varna, Bulgaria (1987, 1983, 1981); the National Graphic Art Award “Veselin Staykov” (1982); the Award of the City of Varna (1982), and others. In the past 20 years, he has focused primarily on painting. His grand unifying theme is “the path,” representing the philosophy of the artist’s movement through time. Lechev is one of the remarkable artists known as the “Varna Five,” alongside Stoimen Stoilov, Vanko Urumov, Petyo Marinov, and Milko Bozhkov, who transformed the old Vulkan factory into a creative artist colony. His works are held in galleries, museums, foundations, libraries, and private collections in Bulgaria, the USA, Norway, Switzerland, Argentina, France, Germany, Poland, Mexico, Italy, Canada, Sweden, Japan, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Austria, and beyond.
Photo of Georgi Lechev: Aleksandar Nikolov