About - Tanya Atanasova Visual Arts

"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 (b. 1978, Bulgaria) is a realist painter, educator, and cultural manager based in Antwerp, Belgium. She earned her Bachelor of Applied Arts at the National Academy of Art in Sofia, graduating with top honors, and complemented her studies with an Erasmus year at Sint-Lucas Art Academy in Ghent. In 2016, she refined her craft in a masterclass with Spanish painter Eloy Morales.

Tanya is best known for her large-scale, non-traditional portraits that explore intimacy, time, and human presence within the language of contemporary realism. Guided by a belief in “slow art” as a counter to today’s fast-paced, image-driven culture, her paintings invite viewers to pause and connect. From her studio in Antwerp - one of Europe’s key cities for art, design, and culture - she exhibits widely. Her work has been shown in museums, galleries, and art fairs in Bulgaria, Belgium, Germany, France, Spain, the Netherlands, USA, and Canada.

Her work has been published internationally 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), and All About Hyperrealism and Hyperrealist Painters (France).

With over 14 years of teaching experience, Tanya has guided painters in both academic and independent settings. In 2020 she founded the FiKVA Foundation (Figuratieve Kunst Vandaag), a non-profit organization supporting modern realism through exhibitions, competitions, masterclasses, and artist support. As cultural manager and curator, she has built an international community that values depth, craftsmanship, and authenticity.

Her mission is clear: to create space - both literal and figurative - for artists and audiences to slow down, connect, and keep alive the integrity and narrative power of representational painting in a digital age.

2025 - Exploring Form: The Art of Figure Drawing and Painting - Workshop by Lucas Bononi, Antwerp, Belgium
2023 - Realistic Portraits - Painting Workshop by Jaime Valero, Ghent, Belgium
2016 - Realistic Painting - 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

2025 Jury member for "2025 Le Venezie International Watercolor Festival" / Italy - China

2025 Jury member for "International FiKVA Award 2025 / Belgium

2024 Jury member for "Titian Prize" / Italy - China

2024 Jury member for "MiniARTures" / The Netherlands

2023 Jury member for "International FiKVA Award 2023" / Belgium

2022 Jury member for "International FiKVA Award 2022 / Belgium

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

2018 Finalist at “Ongezien #3” – competition / BP-building / Antwerp, Belgium

2017 Finalist at "Grote Prijs Piet Staut"-competition / Castle Cortewalle, Beveren-Waas, 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

2023 "Vrienden" / Solo exhibition / Paintings / Wilma Geerts Gallery / Dordrecht, The Netherlands

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

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 "Shelter" - online exclusive show curated by Dr. Samuel Peralta / Paintings / Artsy / USA
www.artsy.net/artwork/tanya-atanasova-philip

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

2018 "Carolyn Spaenjaers & Tanya Atanasova" / Duo-Exhibition / Paintings / Gallery Jean, Antwerp, Belgium / www.jeangallery.be/

2018 "Living Room" / LandArt Installation / Open Sites, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France / www.entre-lacs.eu

2018 "Goed bezig " - Art & Music Festival / Paintings / Meatpack aan de Dam, Antwerp, Belgium / www.facebook.com/meatpackantwerp

2018 "Kunstroute Essen" / Group Exhibition / Paintings / Sint-Antoniusplein 1, Essen, Belgium / www.tatteljee.be

2017 Exhibition of the finalists in "Grote Prijs Piet Staut"- competition / Painting / Castle Cortewalle, Beveren - Waas, Belgium / www.kpsk.be

2017 Preselected for Figurativas MEAM Barcelona / Barcelona, Spain

2016 "My soul is a landscape" / LandArt Instalation / La Fête de May, Haut-Bois (Gesves), Belgium / www.lafetedemai.org

2016 "Golden (F)oil" / Instalation / P(ART)cours - Par(KUNST), Woluwe Park, Brussels, Belgium / www.partcours-parkunst.com

2016 Painting with Eloy Morales / Master Workshop / Painting / Madrid, Spain / www.eloymorales.es

2015 "DecemberWinkel" - ArtFair / Paintings / Kalmthout, Belgium / www.decemberwinkel.be

2015 "Kunst @ IJsfabriek" - Group Exposition / Paintings / Antwerp, Belgium / www.deijsfabriek.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 "Kunstroute Essen" / Paintings / Sint-Antoniusplein 1, Essen, Belgium / www.tatteljee.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

2013 "Golden Rocks" / LandArt Installation / Landart am Bruchhof, Stadthagen, Germany / www.landart-bruchhof.de

2012 "Kunstroute Essen" / Paintings / Essen, Belgium / www.tatteljee.be

2008 "Canvascollection" / Paintings / Antwerp, Belgium / http://labo.canvas.be/content/de-appel

2005 "Nieuwe Oogst" / Ceramics / Sint Lievens Esse, Belgium

2005 "The Sea Misses You" / Installation / Balkan Exhibition, Academy Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria

2005 "Hanging experiment" / Performance / Little season, Theatre - Laboratory Sfumato, Sofia, Bulgaria

2005 The Sea Misses You / Installation / Little Season, Theatre - Laboratory Sfumato, Sofia, Bulgaria

1999 Group Exhibition / Ceramics / Elin - Pelin, Bulgaria

1999 Regional Exhibition / Painings & Drawings / Koprivshtica, Bulgaria