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 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) and “Adorn me” excusive online project (curated by Carol Hodes).
In 2020 she is preparing a large solo exhibition, that will open in February 2021 in Zoersel (near Antwerp, Belgium) and several group exhibitions including WOMAN at James Baird Gallery (Newfoundland, Canada).
In the past few years Tanya was a finalist in several Belgian national competitions such as "Painting of the Year - Belgium" 2013 & 2014, "Grote Prijs Piet Staut" 2017, "Ongezien" 2018 & 2019 and was selected for some of the most prestigious contests in the world, such as "Figurativas" at MEAM in Barcelona in 2017. In 2020 she won 1st prize at Boynes Emerging Artists Award Australia.
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)…
Her works have been shown in numerous group and solo exhibitions in galleries, museums and art fairs in Bulgaria, Belgium, Germany, France, Spain and the Netherlands.
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
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
2020 Prize winner at Global Pride Day 2020 by Ello and Superfine / USA
2020 First Prize with “Lou” at Boynes Emerging Artist Award / Australia
2019 Finalist in “Ongezien #4” – competition / Port of Antwerp / Antwerp, Belgium
2020 "Kom uit uw kot" / Triple exhibition / Pintings / New Jorg Gallery / Kalmthout, Belgium
2020 "Lou" / 1st prize at Boynes Emerging Artists Award Australia / Painting / Australia www.boynesartistaward.com
2019 "You my dear" / Solo exhibition / Paintings / Huis Hellemans, Edegem, Belgium
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
