Atanas Chongarov is an artist based in Calgary, working primarily in drawing, painting, graphic design, and interior design. Atanas draws in the energy of a space and the community and reflects his interpretation of the vitality through vivid colors evoking emotion in his art. He is invigorated by the many differing views of life and the juxtaposition of nature, wildlife, tradition, and modern convenience. In his art, he tries to develop the shape using a combination of intensive colours; or tries to escape from the shape. Atanas’s work leverages his technical education from The High School of Applied Arts in Smolyan, Bulgaria”, and a master’s degree from The National Academy of Fine Art, Sofia, Bulgaria.
CV
Education:
– PhD student, Art History—Modern and Contemporary Art, National Academy of
Fine Art, Sofia, Bulgaria (E.U.)
-Master’s degree in Art & Design, National Academy of Fine Art, Sofia, Bulgaria—1999
– Artist-Applied Art, High School of Fine Art, Smolyan, Bulgaria – 1991
– Children’s Book illustration, Alberta College of Art + Design – 2017
-Typography, University of Calgary—2015
– Adult Learning Certificate, Mount Royal University, Calgary, AB, Canada – 2020
Residencies/Grants:
– Leighton Artist Studio Residency, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Fall 2018
-Responsible for the artistic concept and prototype design of the kuker mask for the Calgary Bulgarian Society Service Canada grant, Discover Bulgaria 2016-2017.
Memberships:
2022 Associate (AFCA) Membership – Federation of Canadian Artists
2018 Juried Member, Alberta Society of Artists
2016 Juried Active Membership – Federation of Canadian Artists
Publications:
2024 “POLITICS AND ART” in “Art & Critique,” Volume 5 / Issue 2 / Year 2024, magazine of the National Academy of Art, Bulgaria.
2024 “PROTEST ART: AN INTRODUCTION TO ACTIVIST ART” in “Rhodopi” magazine of the Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar” and Smolyan Regional Administration”, Volume 3 / Issue 4 / Year 2024
2017 “Into the Garden exhibit at Red Deer public library offers colourful respite for winter-weary eyes,” Lana Michelin, 27 December 2017
2007 City of Smolyan Newspaper
1997 Interview, Smolyan Radio
1995 International Student Exposition Catalogue Nagoya
Teaching:
2020–present – Instructor at Visual College of Art and Design (VCAD) (Vancouver, Canada)
Drawing & Life Drawing
2019-present – Instructor at Mount Royal University (Calgary, Canada) – Perspective Drawing
2018 – present – Art Instructor
1998–present—Art Tutor
Juries:
2022 Juror, The Alberta Society of Artists – Juried Membership
2020 Juror: The Alberta Society of Artists—Provincial travelling exhibition “Into the Light”
2019 The Alberta Society of Artists—Juried Membership
Solo Exhibitions:
2019 Solo Exhibition, Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital – Art Gallery, Edmonton, AB, Canada
2018 Pop-up Solo Exhibition, Watermark Tower, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
2018 “Strands of Time,” Solo Exhibition, Watermark Tower, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
2018 to 2019 Solo Exhibition Series, Watermark Tower, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
1997 Exposition Smolyan Art Gallery “Drawings,” Smolyan, Bulgaria
Group Exhibitions:
2026 Juried Show Accepted in “Spotlight” Federation of Canadian Artists, Oct. 1 – 31
2024 Exhibition by the Smolyan Artists Group, Smolyan Art Gallery, Smolyan, Bulgaria, May 17
2022 Juried Show Accepted in “Small” Federation of Canadian Artists
2022 Juried Show Accepted in “Success! – Spring 2022” Federation of Canadian Artists
2022 Juried Show Accepted in “Small” Federation of Canadian Artists
2021 Juried Show Accepted in “Concept” Federation of Canadian Artists
2021 Juried Show Accepted in “Small” Federation of Canadian Artists
2021 Juried Show Accepted in “Vancouver Salon” Federation of Canadian Artists
2020 Juried Show “Painting on the Edge,” Federation of Canadian Artists, BC, Canada, July 13 – August 2
2020 Juried Show Accepted in “Animalis” Federation of Canadian Artists, BC, Canada
2019 Juried Show Accepted in “Artists Choice 2019—Alberta Society of Artists,” New Central Library, Calgary, AB, Canada
2018 Juried Show Accepted in “Artists Choice 2019—Alberta Society of Artists,” Walterdale Theater, Edmonton, AB, Canada
2018 “Exposition Smolyan Artists dedicated to May 24, Day of Bulgarian Culture and Cyrillic Alphabet,” Smolyan Art Gallery, Smolyan, Bulgaria
2018 Juried Show Accepted in “Works on Paper” Federation of Canadian Artists
2017 Juried Show Accepted in “Into The Garden—Renewal” Kiwanis Gallery
2017 Juried Show Accepted in “Acrylics in Action” Federation of Canadian Artists
2017 Juried Show Accepted in “Spotlight,” Alberta College of Art + Design
2016 Juried Show Accepted in “Sketch” Federation of Canadian Artists
2016 Discover Bulgaria – Kukeri, Calgary Public Library
2016 Juried Show Accepted in “Limitless” Federation of Canadian Artists
2015 Juried Show Accepted in “Limitless” Federation of Canadian Artists
2015 Art Show and Sale, Didsbury, Alberta, Canada
2013 “Spring” Exposition, Smolyan Art Gallery, Smolyan, Bulgaria
2013 “Grita Gallery,” Sofia, Bulgaria
2012 “Christmas” Exhibition, Smolyan Art Gallery, Smolyan, Bulgaria
2012 Group Exposition KDK Art Gallery, Smolyan, Bulgaria
2011 “Christmas” Exposition, Smolyan Art Gallery, Smolyan, Bulgaria
2010 Exposition Gallery Petar Staikov, Smolyan, Bulgaria
2010 Exhibition “Acho and Friends,” Smolyan Art Gallery, Smolyan, Bulgaria
2009 “Fall” Exposition Smolyan Art Gallery, Smolyan, Bulgaria
2008 “Christmas” Exposition, Smolyan Art Gallery, Smolyan, Bulgaria
2007 “Spring” Exposition, Smolyan Art Gallery, Smolyan, Bulgaria
1997 Exhibition of Master Graduate Class, Sofia, Bulgaria
1995 International Student Exposition—Nagoya, Japan
1991 Exposition of High School Graduates, City Gallery, Smolyan, Bulgaria
Collections:
2018-Smolyan City Art Gallery
Private collections in Canada, USA, England, Australia, Germany, Bulgaria, Japan, and Poland