Ivan Iliev
Artist, graduated in painting and graphics
1951 Born in Burgas, Bulgaria
1970-75
Study at the academy of arts in Sofia
Painting and graphics, book illustration and layout
1975-87
Free-lance artist
Activities in different art areas: painting, graphics, architecture, design, illustration, layout.
Participation in numerous group exhibitions.
Participation in the 1., 2, and 3. International Graphikbiennale in Varna, 1. award and several other honours for illustrations
Three one-man shows:
1981, 1982 in Sofia
1983 in Dimitrovgrad
1987-90
Artistic editor-in-chief of the publishing house Zemisdat, Sofia
Since 1990
Free-lance artist in Vienna
Member of BVÖ, the professional association of educating artists of Austria
1993
Künstlerportrait aired on Austrian National TV
1991-2012
Numerous group and single exhibitions, among others, Palais Wittgenstein, Podersdorf am See, Station 3 (BVÖ), Festsaal TU Vienna, BAWAG Fondation, Wiener Festwochen, Weikendorf, Mödling's Sala Terena, Wiener Neustadt's Stadtmuseum, Istanbul, Sofia: art in the public area, Wiener Neudorf's Altes Rathaus, Gallery Prisma Vienna, Gallery Avatar Vienna.
Silver Award Winner of the "ShowArtist" Emerging Artist Discovery Prize Fine Art Competition 2012.
Since 1998
Active occupation with computer graphics beside painting
2000, 2002 and 2004 participation in ARS Elektronica, Linz.
1999-2012
Numerous visualization projects commissioned by the Austrian Academy of Sciences.
According to Gerlinde Schrammel
Three cornerstones comprise the primary characteristics of Ivan Illiev’s artistic work: his care for detail, his love of nature and his affinity for late Renaissance and Baroque painting.
Illiev lovingly represents and interprets his chosen subjects with meticulous precision. His education as a graphic designer and his extensive experience in this field has schooled his eye for detail, so that he may easily and humorously devote himself to his favorite subjects in painting.
His love of nature leads him to the exploration of landscapes and their vegetation. For the artist, plants are equivalent with the message: budding, growing and withering.
The artist’s love for the old masters is manifested in his technique and his use of rich detail. One cannot help but think about old masters such as Arcimboldo, or the Dutch paintings of still life.
Clear references to his Bulgarian origin are found in the rich splendor of color and form in the paintings of Ivan Illiev. The artist cannot, and will not deny a characteristic of the Bulgarian tradition: ornamentation. This may be found as a main theme in his paintings, and at the same time is an enduring component of his personal style.
Halloween
2009 60x50cm oil on plywood
2700 €
UFOFABRIK
Contemporary Art Gallery
