DANIELA OVTCHAROV
Education
1984 – 1989 University Education: Master of fine Arts (1989):
Higher Institute of Fine Arts “Nikolay Pavlovich” (National Academy of Fine Arts).
Faculty of Applied Arts (class of Prof. L. Prashkov), Sofia, Bulgaria
Specialization: Conservation & Restoration – ancient, medieval and modern art.
1979 – 1982 Secondary Education in Classic Languages, Latin:
High School “St. Clement Ohridsky”, Sofia, Bulgaria
Silver Plaque by the Bulgarian Ministry of Education for Scholastic Excellence
Experience:
Free Lanced artist:
1985 – present Traditional Orthodox Icons and Sacred Arts, Modern and & Abstract Art, Miniatures, Book Illustrations (drawing, watercolors, tempera, oil and acrylic paintings, mixed media), Fine Silver Jewelry and Enamel.
1990 – 1993 Long-term collaboration and contribution to Hemus Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria, Bulgaria’s largest international retailer / wholesaler of fine arts. Hemus Gallery has several exhibition halls in Bulgaria, as well as organizes and participates in art shows worldwide.
1990 – 1993 Long-term collaboration with Unikat Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria. This gallery is an international art dealer showing collections in Germany, Austria, Holland and Poland.
1993 1996 Permanent participation in the exhibitions organized by and held in The Crypt of the Patriarchal Cathedral Memorial-Church “St. Alexander Nevski”. The Crypt is a division of the Bulgarian National Gallery of Fine Arts and associated with the National History Museum. The Crypt is dedicated Christian Orthodox arts being the most prestigious national icon gallery and center for religious visual arts.
1997 – present Currently presents her works at Weems Gallery, Albuquerque, NM.
Fine Arts Gallerist:
1990 – 1993 Founded and operated Adamant K Fine Arts & Crafts Gallery in Sofia. Located in the lobby level of Novotel Europe (one of the central hotels in Sofia, ranking the top in the country), the gallery offered a collection of traditional Bulgarian arts and crafts, including icon paintings, copper and iron works, jewelry as well as modern art: paintings, prints, textile and ceramics.
Works by Daniela Ovtcharov and her husband Vladimir Ovtcharov were presented as part of an exclusive collection of work contemporary Bulgarian artists and craftsmen.
Restoration Specialist:
1985 Participated in a medieval fresco restoration and conservation project team working at Rila Monastery, Mount Rila in Southwestern Bulgaria. Rila Monastery is the oldest (established early X century), largest and most complex Eastern Orthodoxy monastery in Bulgaria. It has been in operation continuously for more than one thousand years and presents one of Bulgaria’s most prominent national treasures. The place of this religious, historical, artistic and architectural monument in the world’s cultural heritage is acknowledged by including of the Rila Monastery in the UNESCO list of protected creations of humanity.
1986 Participated in a modern fresco restoration and conservation project team working at the Patriarchal Cathedral Memorial-Church “St. Alexander Nevski”, Sofia, Bulgaria. The largest and most decorated Bulgarian cathedral is built 1904 – 1912. The fresco, mosaics and marble stone decorations (1911 – 1913) are work of the most prominent Bulgarian and Russian artists of that time.
1990 – 1997 Founded and operated a studio for restoration and conservation of icons and
paintings, Sofia, Bulgaria.
1997 – present Founded and operated a studio for restoration and conservation of icons and paintings, Albuquerque, NM. Restoration works on the icons collection at the “Romancing the Stone” and “Payton Wright” gallery, Santa Fe, NM.
1989 – 1997 Interior Design & Decoration, Artistic Furniture, Murals.
1995 – 1997 Interior design consultant with Shopov & Son Company, Sofia, Bulgaria.
2002 Founded and operated “Tangra” gallery with Vladimir Ovtcharov , Santa Fe
Tutoring and Lecturing of Arts:
1994 – 1997 Organizes a class in traditional icon painting and painting techniques. Tutoring mainly professional artists (graduated from the Academy of Fine arts) pursuing the art and craft of icon making.
“Icons and their Importance in Eastern Orthodox Faith”, a lecture for the Oasis Center,
1998 Albuquerque, NM.
Social/Community Activities:
Charitable gifts of icons to newly established and revitalized old Eastern Orthodox Churches throughout Bulgaria. Volunteer restoration work on iconostases, decorations and murals in many churches, monasteries and museums in Bulgaria.
Interviews and guest appearances at talk shows aired by the Bulgarian National Television, private television channel “NTV”, Bulgarian National Radio “Christo Botev”, private radio station “Express” discussing the vital problems of today’s art founded on the roots of national tradition, problems of national cultural heritage and cultural identity.
Honors and Awards:
1994 State Purchase
Bulgarian Ministry of Culture (State Department) made the purchase of the original icon “St. Ciril and St. Methodius” by Daniela Ovtcharov, which was dedicated as the official state gift from Republic of Bulgaria to the Pope of Rome. The icon was presented to Pop John-Paul II in honor of St. Ciril and St. Methodius during the feast of St. Ciril at Vatican.
1994 Vanga’s Madonna
A private purchase of the icon “St. Mary” by Daniela Ovtcharov was made to be a gift for the church of St. Mary in Rupite (Melnik region, Bulgaria), which was under construction founded by Bulgaria’s living prophet: Vanga from Rupite. Vanga beloved the icon so much, so she ordered it to be placed in her private room. Vanga wished the icon to be transferred to the church after her dead. Vanga was canonized by Eastern Orthodox Church as a Saint for her fait, prophecies, humane and divine services.
1998 Third Place
Bardean Gallery Miniature Art Show, Albuquerque, NM. A competitive annual exhibition of miniature art in several media and
techniques.
1998 2nd Place “Saints yesterday, today and tomorrow”
2001 Best of Painting “West And Art Festival”
2001 Best of Painting “Gold Coast Art Festival”
2001 2nd Place “Evanston Art Fear”
2005 third place “Bayou City Art Festival”
2005 Best new Comer award “57th Street”
2005 1st Place “Portland Art Festival
Selected One-Person Exhibitions:
1991 Adamant K Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria
1992 Adamant K Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria
1994 Studio Spectrum, Sofia, Bulgaria
1995 Boyana Church & Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria
Selected Group Exhibitions (as an invited artist):
1990 Unikat Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria
1992 International Exhibition of Arts, Stuttgart, Germany
1993 Exhibition of East European Art, Three-artist show, Turne, Belgium
1993 Four Bulgarian Artists in Vesteralen, Sortland, Norway
1993 Atelier Strandland, Vesteralen, Norway
1993 International Exhibition of Fine Arts, Munich, Germany
1994 International Exhibition of Fine Arts, Munich, Germany
1995 International Exhibition of Fine Arts, Munich, Germany
1995 Icon Exhibition at the National History Museum, Sofia, Bulgaria
1995 Icon Show, Peyton Wright Gallery, Santa Fe, NM, USA
1996 Icon Show, Peyton Wright Gallery, Santa Fe, NM, USA
1998 Bardean Gallery Miniature Art Show, Albuquerque, NM, USA
1998 Bardean Gallery Book Illustrations Art Show, Albuquerque, NM, USA
1998 “Saints Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”, Santa Fe, NM, USA
1999 “Kartis” Gallery, El Paso, TX, USA
2002 “Tangra” Gallery, Santa Fe, NM, USA
