"When observing Tanya’s artwork, there is no need for explanations. You simply delve into the moment and somehow, really unknowingly, just partake in that experience. What is painted, suddenly becomes what is lived. What is felt. What is experienced… even if just vicariously. In a very subtle manner, through her artwork, Tanya personally delivers to you the keys to freedom. In a peculiar way, she is able to depict a sort of liberation that is of the type not confined to a structure, but more so, a liberation of the soul."
Efrat Cybulkiewicz I Writer & Founder of Ar(t)moir
Tanya Atanasova is a Bulgarian born (1978), Belgium based realist artist. She earned a Bachelor of Applied Arts from National Academy of Art (Sofia, Bulgaria). Tanya graduated with maximum score for final work and complemented her studies with one year Erasmus-stay at Sint-Lucas Art Academy in Ghent, Belgium and a Master Class by artist Eloy Morales (Madrid, 2016).
Dedicated to big size non-traditional portraits, Tanya started weaving her way through contemporary realism. She is now working from her own studio in Antwerp (Belgium) – one of Europe’s most important cities for art, design and culture.
In 2019 / 2020 she took part in several group exhibitions including “Painting Today / Pintando Hoy” (curated by Didi Menendez for MEAM Barcelona, Spain), "WOMAN" at James Baird Gallery (Newfoundland, Canada), “Adorn me”, "The Art Of The Nude" and "Shelter" - excusive online projects (curated by Carol Hodes, Didi Menendez and Dr. Samuel Peralta)... She is also preparing a large solo show, that will open in February 2021 at Cultuurhuis De Bijl, Zoersel (near Antwerp, Belgium) and several group exhibitions including “International Women's Day 2021 Exhibition” at Museu Europeu d’Art Modern (MEAM, Barcelona, Spain) and "Homo Sum" - a duo-exhibition at Timmermans-Opsomersmuseum (Lier, Belgium).
Her works have been shown in numerous group and solo exhibitions in museums, galleries & art fairs in Bulgaria, Belgium, Germany, France, Spain, Netherlands, USA and Canada.
Her work has been published in: Fine Art Connoisseur (USA), American Art Collector (USA), PoetsArtists (USA), BOOOOOOOM (USA), The Guide Artists (Spain), Artelibre (Spain), Clatia (China), Beautiful Bizarre (Australia), Ophelia Magazine (Argentina), 100% EXPO (Belgium), KunstWerkt (Belgium), Marike (Russia), Ar(t)moir (Italy), Hyperrealism Magazine (Italy), All about hyperrealism and hyperrealist painters (France)...
In addition to her artistic career, Tanya has worked as an illustrator and a painting and sculpting teacher in Belgium.
Personal info
Date of birth: 04/07/1978 Place of birth: Pirdop, Bulgaria Nationality: Bulgarian, Belgian Place of residence: Antwerp, Belgium
Education
2023 - Workshop by Jaime Valero, Ghent, Belgium
2016 - Workshop by Eloy Morales, Madrid, Spain
2001 - 2005 National Academy of Art, Sofia, Bulgaria Major: Applied Arts - Ceramics 2003 - 2004 Hogeschool Voor Wetenschap & Kunst / Sint - Lucas / Beeldende Kunst, Ghent, Belgium 1993 - 1998 Vocational School of Ceramics and Glass, Elin-Pelin, Bulgaria Major: Design in Silicate Production
Recognition & Awards
2022 Included into the Lunar Codex collection with six works hosted in two time capsules - "Philip" (in The Nova-C Lander) and "Philip dyeing his beard and eyebrows with henna", "Smokey eyes - Joëlle", "Lou", "Jens" & "Tiger" (in The Griffin mission) / The Moon
2021 Finalist at "Nationale prijs voor schilderkunst van de stad Ieper - Louise Dehem" with "Philip" & "Philip dyeing his beard and eyebrows with henna" / Belgium
2020 Semi-finalist at Art Renewal Center with "Boudoir portrait of Alessandro Tomassetti" / USA
2020 Prize winner at Global Pride Day 2020 by Ello and Superfine with "Tiger" / USA
2020 First prize at Boynes Emerging Artist Award with “Lou”/ Australia
2019 Finalist at “Ongezien #4” – competition / Port of Antwerp / Antwerp, Belgium
2017 Semi-finalist at "Figurativas" MEAM Barcelona / Barcelona, Spain
2014 Finalist at “Painting of the year Belgium 2014” / Belgium
2013 Finalist at “Painting of the year Belgium 2013” / Belgium
2008 Semi-finalist at "Canvascollection" / Antwerp, Belgium
Solo Exhibitions
2021 "Echte mensen" / Solo exhibition / Paintings / Cultuurhuis de Bijl / Zoersel, Belgium
2019 "You my dear" / Solo exhibition / Paintings / Huis Hellemans, Edegem, Belgium
2018 "You my dear" / Solo Exhibition / Portraits / Design Center De Winkelhaak / Antwerp, Belgium / www.winkelhaak.be
2014 "Art & Music in the SkyBar" - Solo Exhibition / Paintings / SkyBar, Antwerp, Belgium / www.facebook.com/pages/Tanya-Atanasova-Visual-Arts
2000 "Paintings & Drawings" / Solo Exibition / Koprivshtica, Bulgaria
Group Exhibitions & Contests
2021 "HOMO SUM" - Group exhibition / Paintings / Timmermans - Opsomer Museum, Lier / Belgium
2021 "National Prize For Painting Of The City Of Ypres - Louise Dehem" - Group exhibition / Paintings / Het Perron, Ypres / Belgium www.hetperron.be/louise-dehem
2020 "WOMAN" - Group exhibition / Paintings/ James Baird Gallery / Canada www.artsy.net/artwork/tanya-atanasova-still-water
2020 "Global Pride Day" - Art Fair, Digital Feature & Artist E-Learning / Paintings / Ello & Superfine / USA
2020 "Kom uit uw kot" / Triple exhibition / Pintings / New Jorg Gallery / Kalmthout, Belgium
2020 "Lou" / 1st prize at Boynes Emerging Artists Award Australia / Paintings / Australia www.boynesartistaward.com
2019 "The Art Of The Nude" / An exclusive, online show of PoetsArtists curated by Didi Menedez / Paintings / Zhou B Art Center, Chicago, USA / ARTSY-Link for collectors: www.artsy.net/artist/tanya-atanasova
2019 "Ongezien #4" / Group Exhibition / Paintings / Havenhuis - Port of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium / www.expoongezien.be/
2019 "Painting Today / Pintando Hoy - International Women's Day" / Group Exhibition / Paintings / Museu Europeu d'Art Modern / Barcelona, Spain / www.meam.es/es/exhibitions/84/painting-today
2019 "Adorn me" / An exclusive, online show of PoetsArtists curated by Carol Hodes / Paintings / Zhou B Art Center, Chicago, USA / ARTSY-Link for collectors: www.artsy.net/artist/tanya-atanasova
2018 "L’Abstrait Réel" / Group Exhibition / Paintings / La Salle Royale de la Madeleine, Paris, France
2018 Exhibition of the finalists in "Ongezien #3" - competition / Group exhibition / Painting / BP-building, Antwerp, Belgium / www.expoongezien.be www.museumnacht.be
2015 "40 Jaar de Meesters" - Group Exhibition / Paintings / Sint Antoniusplein 1, Essen, Belgium / www.tatteljee.be
2015 "Painting of the year - Belgium 2014" - Group Exhibition of the finalist's works / Painting / CODA Museum / Apeldoorn, The Netherlands / www.schilderijvanhetjaar.be
2015 "ArtEindhoven" - Art fair / Paintings / The Klokgebouw (former Philips factory) / Eindhoven, The Netherlands / www.arteindhoven.nl
2014 "Painting of the year - Belgium 2014 " / www.schilderijvanhetjaar.be/schilderij/277
2014 "Painting of the year - Belgium 2013" - Group Exhibition of the finalist's works / Painting / Kunstforum Würth, Turnhout, Belgium / www.schilderijvanhetjaar.be
2013 "Painting of the year - Belgium 2013" - www.schilderijvanhetjaar.be/schilderij/455
2013 "Tanya Atanasova - Ivo Nijs - Duo-exhibition" / Paintings / Tracé - Cultuur Station Ekeren, Belgium / www.vzwtrace.be
