NDK Autumn Arts Salon 2026
As part of the"Salon of the Arts" at theNational Palace of Culture (22.10 – 02.11), a solo exhibition entitled "Alchemy of Time" by one the contemporary Bulgarian painter —Ralitsa Stoitseva—is presented in partnership with Gallery 33.
The artist was born in Sofia on May 14, where she continues to live and work today. Her journey in the fine arts began at the National Academy of Art in Sofia, where she earned her degree in Fine Art in 1992. She is a member of the Union of Bulgarian Artists (UBA).
Her creative work is deeply rooted in the rich traditions of European art. Working in both oil and acrylic paints, she imparts a contemporary context to time-honored painting techniques. Over her more than 30-year career, Stoitseva has held over 20 solo exhibitions and participated in numerous collaborative projects. Her canvases are part of prestigious collections, including the National Art Gallery in Sofia, the Art-Dialogue Foundation in Paris, as well as private collections across Bulgaria, France, Germany, the United States, and beyond.
The exhibition "Alchemy of Time" carries a deeply personal and symbolic character. The choice of venue is not accidental: the artist shares a deep emotional connection with the building of the National Palace of Culture, as her mother was part of the team of architect Aleksandar Barov, who designed the palace. Today, Stoitseva’s painting returns to the Palace to engage in a monumental, natural dialogue with its architectural scale.
Ralitsa Stoitseva’s art represents a synthesis of surrealism, expressionism, and spiritual abstraction. At the core of her aesthetic explorations lies a drive toward the amorphous representation of forms, where everything originates from a cosmic order. Her works explore transcendent space and the transience of earthly existence. The subtle hints of universal symbols, such as the "Eye of Providence," remain open to viewers seeking deeper levels of identification and philosophical interpretation. For Stoitseva, the primary focus remains the pure emotion and inner charge she channels directly onto the canvas.
Over the years, the artist has navigated through key formal periods:
At the end of the first decade of the 21st century, her creative focus shifted toward Pop Art culture and the meticulousness offered by this movement. Her works from this phase stand out for their detailed rendering of objects and the influence of collage aesthetics. A striking example is the monumental canvas "105 Pieces of Love" (2017, acrylic, 450 x 210 cm)—a large-scale mosaic composition of graphic and pictorial fragments.
Free Abstraction and Monumentality: In her more recent works, Stoitseva approaches the canvas with a sweeping gesture encouraged by the intrinsic qualities of the medium. While acrylic serves her to build tighter structures, oil paint allows her to be powerful, uninhibited, and expressive. A signature technique of the artist is the inlaying of copper onto the canvas—metal fragments she processes personally on a printmaking press, adding a distinct tactile texture and light reflectivity.
Elegant Monochromatic Abstraction: Her abstract modes are refined and restrained. Unlike the expressive gesture of Pollock or the geometric order of Kandinsky, Stoitseva’s abstraction is philosophically structured and balanced.
The exhibition "Alchemy of Time" features 10 monumental works organized around several core thematic axes:
The "In the Clouds" Cycle and the Philosophy of "Spilling": At the heart of the exhibition is the 6-meter-long monumental polyptych "Alchemy of Time"—a large-scale pictorial narrative evoking a sense of infinity.
The Cycle of Inner Peace and Elements: Dedicated to her inner world and desires, symbolically inlaid into natural elements and seasons. Related to this cycle are "Spring of My Desires" (2024, 226 x 150 cm) and "Summer of My Desires" (2024, 226 x 150 cm).
Integrated within Stoitseva’s canvases are always conscious or subconscious retrospective states:
"Wind" (2020, acrylic, 200 x 190 cm)—a luminous, expressive work with a vibrant palette, designed to be fully experienced from every viewing angle.
"Timelessness" (2021, 146 х 200 cm) —created during the COVID-19 pandemic, capturing her emotional charge at the time through the metaphor of butterflies trapped in a net they are on the verge of breaking.
"Secret Garden" (2024, oil, 196 x 300 cm) and "Walk in Paradise" (2024, oil, 150 x 196 cm)—richly textured canvases combining copper and textual inlays.
"Fiery Horse" (2026, oil, 150х120 cm) —a composition tied to the symbolism of the Eastern calendar.
In its entirety, the exhibition does not merely showcase the scale of a mature painterly output; it constructs an open, meditative space. Within it, Ralitsa Stoitseva’s canvases transcend the physical frame, allowing pure emotion and chromatic light to speak where words fall short.
The official opening will take place on October 22 at 6:30 PM in the "West" Foyer (1st floor, Entrance A3) of the National Palace of Culture in Sofia.
Exhibition dates: October 22, 2026 – November 2, 2026.
We look forward to welcoming you!