Graphics and Painted Ceramics
“Whatever you do – whether planting tomatoes or vineyards, raising fish, building with stone, or painting – you must put your whole heart into it.”
— Hristo Gospodinov
An exhibition in memory of the artist Hristo Gospodinov – "Petchkata" (1945–2003), organized by his daughter Velina Gospodinova, will open on May 5, 2025, at 6:00 PM at Gallery 33 in Varna. The event will be accompanied by a video presentation featuring archival photographs of the artist and his works.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the birth of Hristo Gospodinov – Petchkata, a master artist who left a lasting imprint on the cultural and urban landscape of Dobrich, and who passed away unexpectedly in 2003. In 1972, he graduated from the National Academy of Arts in Sofia with a degree in Applied Graphics under Prof. Alexander Poplilov. Shortly after, he specialized in Poland before returning to Bulgaria, where he became the Chief Artist of Tolbukhin (today's Dobrich). He developed the project “Aestheticizing the Environment We Live In,” with the visionary concept of freeing the city center from automobiles.
Gospodinov took part in 12 national group exhibitions and held 15 solo shows—featuring graphics, drawings, and paintings—in Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Stara Zagora, and Dobrich. He also participated in solo and group exhibitions in Italy, France, Russia, Switzerland, and Belgium. His works are part of the collections of national art galleries and private collectors in France, the USA, Japan, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, and Russia.
His artistic vision was inspired by cosmic themes from ancient mythologies, the hidden connections between natural phenomena, and sacred symbols found in nature—all of which are vividly and symbolically reflected in his art. Drawing freely and passionately from life itself, he expressed these ideas with both bold gestures and delicate finesse. The beauty of his homeland and the timeless allure of the female form inspired many of his works, where he transformed visual delight into artistic expression.
Hristo Gospodinov created over 50 monumental decorative works—including frescoes, ceramics, mosaics, sculptures, and tapestries—and more than 1,000 ceramic pieces located across Bulgaria and abroad. His artistic contributions can be found in public buildings, schools, banks, and civic squares. He designed and executed mural paintings using various techniques: 20 wet frescoes, 10 dry frescoes, 5 sgraffito panels, and 9 mosaics in colored smalt. He also worked in metal, stone (e.g., in the center of Balchik), and concrete (in Dobrich and Tutrakan), and created several sgraffito murals in General Toshevo. Notably, he completed 29 painted ceramic panels, the largest of which spans 400 square meters and is located at Hotel Marina, in the Sunny Day Resort near Varna, with smaller works in the town of Tervel.
Today, his legacy lives on through remarkable works such as the two wet fresco murals in the Organ Hall of Dobrich, the three murals at P.R. Slaveykov Secondary School, the historical murals at Ivan Vazov High School of Mathematics, and the tapestry and metal sculpture "Fire" in the city's ceremonial hall. His stone panel on the facade of Hotel Bulgaria in Dobrich and the stylized decorative waves on the central square are further testaments to his creative genius, as are the many graphic and monumental elements found throughout the region.
“My father was a man of immense heart and superhuman strength. He could channel the high-voltage energy of divine inspiration and work tirelessly until every detail reached perfection. Gifted by birth with the talents of two great bloodlines—one from Zheravna, the other from Aegean Thrace—he left us, the future generations of Dobrudzha, with visions of the future immersed in the myths of the past,”
shares his daughter, Velina Gospodinova.
The exhibition at Gallery 33 in Varna pays tribute to the life and talent of Hristo Gospodinov – Petchkata, a powerful creative force who dedicated his life and energy to art. Ninety of his works, including graphics and painted ceramics, will be presented to art lovers by art historian Plamena Dimitrova-Racheva. In this exhibition, the works will come to life once more, receiving the recognition they deserve and honoring the artist and the man behind them.
Exhibition dates: April 28 – May 14, 2025
Opening event: May 5, 2025, at 6:00 PM
Location: Gallery 33, 2A Gabrovo Street, Varna
Admission: Free
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