One of the most recognizable Bulgarian painters, Iliya Zhelev, liked and sought after on the European art scene, invites the public to his new solo exhibition, which will open on May 9 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Art Gallery - Plovdiv. Presenting 27 pieces, Zhelev will showcase his signature style, beloved by admirers not only in Bulgaria but also in Germany and Austria. This exhibition promises to captivate audiences with the essence of Zhelev's artistic mastery, known and cherished across borders.

Iliya Zhelev was born in Plovdiv on July 20, 1961. He graduated from the "Painting" specialty at the University of Veliko Turnovo St. St. Cyril and Methodius. Between 1988 and 2004, he taught painting and art history at the Secondary Special Art School in Tryavna. He has been a freelance artist since 2004 and has had more than 100 solo exhibitions, most of which are in Germany. His paintings are owned by the National Gallery in Sofia, Sofia City Art Gallery, municipal galleries and private collections in the country, as well as in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Great Britain, Spain, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Luxembourg, USA, Canada, Japan, India, Hong Kong, Israel and others.

He published a variety of art albums with his works: "Coasts", 2002, Galerie in der Pranerstrasse, Munich; Bridges, 2005, EnBW, Stuttgart; "Rotations", 2008, Art Collection, Munich; "The Colors", 2017, Art Collection, Austria; "Icons", 2021, Art Collection, Austria.

As the German critic Ralf Rensmann wrote about him: "Ilia Zhelev's world consists of small pieces. The viewer is faced with a collection of numerous miniatures. The individual elements of the colorful mosaics lead, on the one hand, a life of their own, and on the other hand, they are inserted into a common picture full of magic. In this union of miniatures, next to the concrete images, there are pure abstractions..."

The exhibition will be open for visitors until May 28.