“The Visual Artists of The National Theatre of Bulgaria | 1904 – 1954” is a joint project of Sofia Art Gallery and the National Theatre in relation to the 110th anniversary since its foundation. The exhibition includes unknown works (sketches, photographs, costumes, etc.) from the National Theatre’s archive and artistic works from the funds of Sofia Art Gallery, the Archaeological Museum and the Sofia Library.

The exposition consists of the creations of 63 artists that have worked on the stage of the National Theatre as decorators, costume artists, hatters and architects in the period of 1904–1954. The exhibition is a summary of the material heritage of the Bulgarian artists that survived at the archive of today’s “Ivan Vazov” National Theatre. This archive reveals the different nuances of the artistic mastery of art painters such as Anton Mitov, Ivan Milev, Sirak Skitnik, Ivan Penkov, Pencho Georgiev, Preslav Karshovski, Tsanko Lavrenov, Dechko Uzunov, Georgi Popov (John), of the colossus of the Bulgarian scenography Aleksander Milenkov, of the authors Venera Naslednikova and Asen Popov. This is an archive that gives us the chance to look into the work of dozens of names, which has been neglected by the researchers of art history with their “evaluations” for high and low, significant and petty – names as Andromaha Argirova, Milka Okeanova, Pelagia Vidinska, Maria Berova (Henning), Minion Milenkova, Ani Hadzhimisheva, Raina Rakarova, Strashimir Machev, Ivan Krilov, Todor Pelovski, etc.

The exhibition underlines also one of the world cultural events during this year – 450 years since the birth of the great British play-writer William Shakespeare.

The exposition will be accompanied by a number of cultural events such as lectures, concerts, scientific conference, theater productions, etc.

A thoroughly illustrated catalogue is prepared together with the exhibition, implemented with the financial support of the Sofia Municipality and the Ministry of Culture. Part of the research work during the project is implemented with the help of the program “Student Practices”, in which students from the National Academy of Art and New Bulgarian University participate.

The exhibition team would like to thank the State Agency “Archives”, National Museum for Bulgarian Fine Art, National Library “St. St. Cyril and Methodius”, National Academy of Art, Union of the Bulgarian Artists, Sofia Library, etc