Photographs: Ani Petrova
Curator: Nadezhda Dzhakova, PhD
Opening: Wednesday, 4 March 2026, 6 p.m.
Art 36 Gallery was the first private gallery in Sofia, registered on 12 July 1990. Its gallerist, Kamelia Chekarlieva-Mincheva (15.03.1936–01.05.2020), wholeheartedly supported by her husband Ilarion, managed it with infinite love for art and artists until her death. Founded in a time of turbulent political changes, it actively participated both in the early events on the art market in Bulgaria, and in the process of building a freely organised art scene.
Initially located at 159 Rakovski Street, the gallery was launched with an exhibition by Keazim Issinov. It then moved to a basement space at 40 Slavyanska Street and, on 26 October 1990, it officially opened its doors with an exhibition by Dimitar Kazakov – Neron.
Despite its modest size—a limited exhibition area and a large back garden—the salon had a significant influence on the development of Bulgarian art over three decades. The first artists to be represented by the gallery included: Genko Genkov, Ivan Kirkov, Georg Baev, Georgi Bozhilov – Slona, Svetlin Rusev, Lyuben Zidarov, Magda Abazova, and Tsanko Panov.
The place also established itself as an attractive stage for young talents. In the 1990s, it was there that Kolyo Karamfilov, Rumen Zhekov, Krasimir Dobrev, and many others, held their first exhibitions in the capital.
Some 150 names of artists who had shown their works there were immortalised on the walls of either side of the entrance. At some point, Kamelia discontinued marking them, as she lost contact with the calligrapher who used to inscribe them. According to her, there were at least 50 more. ‘Everyone has their own ladder and climbs it—up or down. I don’t keep count of the exhibitions or the number of artists,’ Kamelia said in an interview.
The camera lens of Ani Petrova—a true friend of the gallery and the artists—has captured many of those hundreds of memorable moments from the capital’s colourful cultural life right there, at Kamelia’s Art 36 Gallery.
The exhibition includes selected portraits of Kamelia painted by some of her favourite artists and friends: Genko Genkov, Stanimir Zhelev, Atanas Atanasov, Galab Galabov and Donka Pavlova, as well as recollections of artists such as Lyuben Genov, Ivan Milev and Stefan Lyutakov.
The history of the first private galleries in the closing decade of the 20th century is still unwritten and poorly researched. The goal of this exhibition is to draw attention to the people and events that participated in the artistic processes and shaped the social life of contemporary art in Bulgaria.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency.
