Largo Art Gallery, Varna | Courtesy of Largo Art Gallery
Experience the art scene in the capital of Bulgaria by heading on a tour of Varna‘s best galleries. Whether you have half an hour or a whole day to spare, they provide a fascinating insight into works from local and international artists. Here’s our pick of the best.
Varna City Art Gallery Boris Georgiev
This gallery is housed in a unique Neo-Gothic building, erected in 1886 as a high school for boys. As the permanent exhibition of the Varna City Art Gallery, it presents the development of Bulgarian art from the beginning of the 20th century until more recent art movements. A collection of works from the best Bulgarian masters is highlighted, while exhibitions of foreign artists are often on the gallery’s schedule of events. Since 1999, the gallery has been named after the Bulgarian artist Boris Georgiev, a representative of the Symbolism movement in Bulgaria whose works are exhibited in one of the gallery’s halls.
Varna City Art Gallery | Courtesy of Varna City Art Gallery
Largo Art Gallery
Art Gallery
Largo Art Gallery in Varna | Courtesy of Largo Art Gallery
This vibrant gallery is located just 5 minutes from the Sea Garden of Varna, in an area known for its rich history. Largo Art Gallery‘s schedule of events includes a variety of exhibitions showcasing both well-established and young Bulgarian artists – one of the gallery’s main aims is to support and promote artists who are just starting their career. The spacious halls with temporary exhibitions are visible from the street, while the basement is reserved for the permanent exhibition.
Kavalet was among the first private galleries that opened their doors after the end of the Communist era in Bulgaria. Founded in 1993, it has since shown more than 15,000 works of art and has created 10 branches in Bulgaria. It has also organized exhibitions of Bulgarian artists abroad. In 2011, Kavalet created the first online gallery in Eastern Europe where you can see and purchase more than 5,000 pieces of art ffom the best Bulgarian contemporary artists.
Contemporary Space is among the most innovative spaces when it comes to the arts in Varna. It features a selection of Bulgarian and foreign contemporary artists, but also organizes musical and video arts workshops, courses, and lectures to create and develop an artistic environment in the city. There is a small bookstore with art catalogs, albums and themed books, as well as a cozy café with a library of books from the personal collections of the owners.
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Gallery 8
Gallery 8 was inaugurated in 1988 and has since presented more than 180 artists. Both Bulgarian and international painters, sculptors, and graphic artists have been taken part in exhibitions here, with art photography being exhibited too for the last 20 years. The collections of Gallery 8 have been shown in other Bulgarian cities and in Vienna.
Le Papillon Art Gallery is an art venue created by Victoria Miteva and artist Dimitar Tumbalov, where contemporary art reaches out to a wider audience. The gallery is situated right in the pedestrian zone of Varna, close to the opera house and the theater. It presents both fine and applied art across two halls – one permanent exhibition and one with exhibitions of Bulgarian artists that changes every month. Le Papillon has organized four sculpture gatherings en plain air, whose results you can see if you visit the nearby resort of Golden Sands where sculptures from these events are situated along the main alleys.
Le Papillon Art Gallery in Varna | Courtesy of Le Papillon Art Gallery
Gallery Art Marconi
This is not just a gallery, but a cultural hub in Varna hosting a wide range of events such as book presentations, poetry readings, anniversaries, etc. Gallery Art Marconi is where you will find paintings and sculptures from famous local and international contemporary artists, as well as an interesting crowd of art lovers to share the experience with a glass of wine.
