Fourth International Exlibris Competition Varna

To The Artworks

The fourth edition of the International ExLibris Competition Varna, organized by Largo Art Gallery, will be held in September and October 2021. The deadline for submitting works was August 30. So far, the artworks from more than 200 artists from 38 countries have arrived.

The Jury of the competition will gather in the sea capital- Varna for its work from 20 to 21 September. Its chairman for the third time in a row is the famous Bulgarian artist Dimo ​​Kolibarov, who is also a lecturer in the Department of Graphics at the Faculty of Fine Arts of the National Academy of Arts, Sofia. Members of the jury are Anna Tikhonova (Belarus), artist, curator of the exlibris collection of the Museum of Modern Art in Minsk, Rumen Nechev (Bulgaria), artist, winner of the third edition of the competition, Dimo ​​Milanov (Bulgaria), artist and Nelly Valcheva (Bulgaria), Director of the competition and of Largo Art Gallery. The artistic director of the International ExLibris Competition Varna for the fourth time is the famous Bulgarian artist and master of the exlibris Julian Jordanov.

Numerous prizes will be awarded in the fourth edition of the competition. In addition to the traditional first, second and third prizes, a prize for a young author and a prize of the International Jury, a prize for special creative achievements in the name of Edward Penkov will again be awarded. In this edition for the fourth time we are supported by the Association of Artists - Varna, which will again award its prize - a bronze plaque. A sponsorship award has been provided to the company "Zariba".

This year Largo Gallery will award a special prize in the name of Jordan Petkov, founder of the gallery and main sponsor of the competition since the beginning. Jordan left this world in early November 2020, taken away from his family, friends and all thouse who loved him by Covid-19. He was an art advocate, supporting numerous projects and charitable initiatives of the gallery. Jordan was a unique specialist in the field of MIDIfication of musical instruments worldwide. His family established an award in his memory because people like him are a shining example of generosity, dedication, integrity and love of art. The prize will be awarded by family members for an exlibris created in his memory.

The winner of the competition and the awarded artists will be officially announced during the opening of the exhibition with the selected artworks on September 22, 2021 at 18:00 in Hall 1 of Largo Art Gallery.

This year the accompanying program of the International ExLibris Competition Varna includes several events. On September 22 in Hall 2 of the gallery, right after the announcement of the awards, will be opened a solo exhibition of graphics by the winner in the third edition of the competition, the Ukrainian master of graphics Oleg Denysenko. On the same day, before the official opening, from 17:00 in Hall 1 of the gallery will be held a lecture with a demonstration of making handmade paper from a famous Bulgarian graphic artist and winner of many prestigious awards Rumen Nechev - a member of the jury.

An accompanying event of the competition will be the talk "The Magic of Graphics" with leading artist Dimo ​​Milanov, who will demonstrate the process of creating an etching. The date of this event is September 24, 2021, Friday, from 18:00, and the place is Largo Art Gallery.

As part of the measures to limit the spread of Covid-19, the two side events will have a limited number of visitors and pre-registration.

After the closing of the exhibition in Largo Gallery, the representative exposition will be shown in the National School of Arts "Dobri Hristov"- Varna, and then - in the gallery "Asparuhovo Art" in Varna.

The International Exlibris Competition Varna is realized with the financial support of the Municipality of Varna through the Culture Fund. As an organizer, Largo Gallery as an organizer cordially thanks the sponsors of the competition - Largonet Ltd., the restaurant chain Godzilla, the Association of Artists - Varna, the company "Zariba"- a gaming developer with a world reputation, Hotel "Royal" - a pearl in the crown of old Varna. More information about the competition can be found on its website: www.exlibris-competition-varna.org.