Bio | Artist Statement

We live in compliance with the laws of reality, time, and daily routine. For Milena Doncheva, there is the temptation to break these laws and to create a new world, a world which she constantly invents and reinvents. To manage and guide such creation is impossible, in the same way in which the reality we live in cannot be planned or absolutely controlled. For Milena, the process ofcreating images is one in which the images are reduced to abstract form and eventually become symbols. The images evolve. Each work is a progression from one to the other, such that their nexttransformation can never be foreseen, even by the artist. There is a constant movement in the paintings in the passing over of characters from one work to another and the overlaying of plots and stories. All this comes about as a result of experimenting with different techniques and tools and in the layering of paint and textures.

Milena Doncheva attended a Fine Arts High School and latter studies at the National Arts Academy in Sofia, Bulgaria where she graduated with an M.A. in textile design. Milena has been exhibiting her work in various mediums such as textile, painting and drawing in numerous solo and group shows since 1999. In 2006 she was the recipient of both the National Competition for Young Bulgarian Artists, St. Cyril and St. Methodius International Foundation and the Ministry of Culture of Bulgaria Award. Milena currently lives and works in Toronto, Canada.

CV

Solo Exhibitions:

The Papermill Gallery, Toronto, Canada, 2017
La Récréation Art Gallery, Montreal, Canada, 2010
Maxim Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria, 2004
Artamontzev Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria, 2002
Art 36 Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria,2001
Vazrajdane Gallery, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 2001
Seasons Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria, 1999

Group Exhibitions:

Map of the New Art, Imago Mundi, Venice, Italy, 2015 
From Her Point of View, Articsók Gallery, Toronto, Canada, 2014
Surrealism for the 21st Century, Articsók Gallery, Toronto, Canada, 2013
The Artist Project, Toronto ( Juried), Canada, 2013
Bezpala Brown Gallery, Last In Exhibition, Toronto, Canada, 2013
La Récréation Art Gallery, Montreal, Canada, En mutation Exhibition, 2012
Zone Orange Gallery, Montreal, Canada, Pied [carré] MTL, 2009
4th International Digital Miniprint Exhibition, Ottawa, Canada, 2009
Crystal Racine Gallery, Montreal, Canada, Childhood Memories Exhibition, 2009
National Gallery for Foreign Art, Sofia, Bulgaria, 25 years St. Cyril and St.Methodius International Foundation, 2007
Shipka 6 Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria, Balance Exhibition, 2007
National exhibition centre for contemporary art Shipka 6, Sofia, Bulgaria, Exhibition for the new members of the Union of Bulgarian Artists, 2007
St. Cyril and St. Methodius International Foundation, National Competition for Young Bulgarian Artists, 2006
Snail Art-At Home Everywhere Exhibition, Sofia, Bulgaria, 2004
Traveling Museum-Contemporary Bulgarian Art, New Delhi-India, Beijing-China, 2004
International Art Fair, Geneva, Switzerland, EUROP'ART, 2004
National Palace of Culture, Sofia, Bulgaria, Arts Salon, Artistic Families Exhibition, 2002
Artamontzev Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria, 2001
Shipka 6 Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria, Colour and paper, 2000
National Young Artists Exhibition, Organized by the Union of Bulgarian Artists, Sofia, Bulgaria, 2000
Shipka 6 Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria, Drawings and sculptures Exhibition, 1999
Shipka 6 Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria, Textile Exhibition, 1998

Awards:

First prize for painting, National Competition for Young Bulgarian Artists,
St. Cyril and St. Methodius International Foundation, 2006
Ministry of Culture of Bulgaria Award, 2006

Contact

Milena Doncheva:

9-61 Lambertlodge ave
Totonto, ON
M6G 3Z1
Canada
phone: 647 621 6974
e-mail: madoncheva@yahoo.com