One of the prominent names in Bulgarian art, the artist Kolyo Kehayov, will be honored with a major retrospective exhibition that will open on September 11, at exactly 6:00 PM. The host of the event is the Burgas Art Gallery "Petko Zadgorski", which will welcome connoisseurs and admirers of his work.

The exhibition, which is united under the intriguing title "Fragments", promises to present an exceptionally rich palette of the author's creative journey. The canvases are expected to cover different periods of his long-standing development and give the public an opportunity to touch the essence of his artistic world.

Creative work and contribution

Kolyo Kehayov was born in 1944 and graduated from the Art Academy in Sofia, where he specialized in the field of "Mural Painting" in the class of Prof. Georgi Bogdanov. His talent and dedication are manifested in numerous monumental and decorative works that have become an integral part of the urban environment and architectural landscape in various places. Among his most famous works are the entrance sign of the village of Prilep, created in collaboration with St. Tsanev, and the ceramic panel for the Olympic Stadium in Moscow.

An undeniable contribution of the artist is the decorative concrete and mosaic sculpture that adorns the building of the Opera in Burgas, as well as the decorative-plastic portal of the stage in the "Mladost" hall, created in collaboration with G. Gyonev.

His signature can also be recognized in the entrance sign of the NHC, in the emblematic "Clock" in Burgas, and in the relief that forms the basis of the installation.

Museum work and membership in the Union of Bulgarian Artists

In addition to being a monumental artist, Kolyo Kehayov has left a lasting mark on museum work. He has worked as a designer and team leader for the artistic and spatial design of several key museum exhibitions, including:

  • The Archaeological Museum in Burgas
  • The Museum Exhibition in Tsarevo
  • The "Maritime Society" Museum Collection in Burgas
  • The Museum of Aviation at Burgas Airport
  • The "Underwater Archaeology" Museum Exhibition in Kiten

In his long career, Kehayov has actively participated in a number of exhibitions at regional, national, and international levels, as well as in group events, presenting his paintings. He also has numerous solo exhibitions that have solidified his place among the leading Bulgarian artists.

His biography also includes managerial and curatorial positions in cultural institutions. From 1995-1996, he was the director of BHG "Petko Zadgorski", and then he worked as a curator at the Aviashow-Burgas Airport from 1997 to 2000. From 2000 to 2010, he held the position of curator again at the Burgas Art Gallery.

Since 1978, Kolyo Kehayov has been a member of the Union of Bulgarian Artists (UBH), "Painting" section, which is a recognition of his talent and contribution to Bulgarian fine art. The upcoming exhibition is an occasion for the wider public to rediscover and pay deserved tribute to one of the most significant contemporary Bulgarian artists.