© Daniel Gebhart de Koekkoek
©Martin Atanasov
Мy work is rooted in the exploration of life. I observe human interactions and unseen narratives, focusing on questions of identity and memory.
Moving between fiction and reality, my work invites dialogue where vulnerability, personal history and collective memory intersect. I create spaces of intimate resonance, where artistic practice becomes a tool for discovery, resilience and meaningful engagement with the self and others.
Intuition is the primary tool that guides me.
BIOGRAPHY
Born in Sofia, Bulgaria
QUALIFICATION
Mag.art.
EDUCATION
2023 IEK Berlin, Art Therapy and Creative Therapy
2016 Scenography Diploma with Nomination for the Academy of Fine Arts by Prof. Anna Viebrock
2012-2016 Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, Masterclass for Scenography by Prof. Erich Wonder, Nicole Timm and Anna Viebrock (AT)
2012 University of Vienna, Guest student, Theatre, Film and Media Studies (AT)
2011 State Academy of Fine Arts Stuttgart, Guest student, Stage and Costume Design by Prof. Martin Zehetgruber (DE)
2008-2011 State Academy of Fine Arts Stuttgart, Architecture (DE)
THEATRE & FILM
2024 Costume design "A pirate romance", dir. Bormir Ilkov-Bono; Sofia (BG)
2024 Costume design "Sturm", dir. Michel Schröder; Sankt Gallen Theater/ Komiktheater (CH)
2023 Costume design "Shokolad", dir. Orlin Milchev; Sofia (BG) (award for best bulgarian short film by SIFF)
2022 Set and Costume design assistant "Little Lives", dir: Christiane Pohle, design: Charlotte Pistorius; Munich Biennale (DE)
2021 Costume design "ANNA" dir. Borimir Ilkov-Bono; Sofia (BG) (Nominated for best costume design by Bulgarian National Film Center)
2021 Costume design assistant "Giuditta", dir: Christoph Marthaler, design: Anna Viebrock; Bavarian State Opera; Munich (DE)
2021 Set and Costume design “onetone”, by: Laura Endres, Nathan Watts and Iva Ivanova; Sofia (BG)
2021 Costume design assistant "Orphée et Euridice", dir: Christoph Marthaler, design: Anna Viebrock; Opernhaus Zürich (CH)
2020 Costume design "Prerogative Lips", dir: Ulduz Ahmadzadeh and Myassa Kraitt (KdM); Vienna (AT)
2020 Costume design "Heidi", /in producion/ dir: Iva Ivanova and Sachiko Hara; Zurich (CH)
2019 Costume design "Hamburg- Salon in Osaka", dir: Sachiko Hara; Osaka (JP)
2019 Costume design "Der Reisende", dir: Manon Pfrunder; Schauspielhaus Zürich (CH)
2018-2020 Costume design assistant at Schauspielhaus Zürich (CH)
2018 Set and Costume design "BADABUM", dir: Bobby M.Klein; Berlin (DE)
2018 Costume design assistant "Hänsel und Gretel", dir: Tiit Ojasoo; design and dir: Ene-Liis Semper; Thalia Theater Hamburg (DE)
2017 Costume design "D-minor", dir: Sophie Renier; Wuzhen Theatre Festival; Wuzhen (CN)
2017 Set design "Die Frauen der Constantia – Emanzipation, Moderne und Nationalismus", dir: Bettina Henkel; Vienna (AT)
2017 Costume design "FremdKörper - The social life of strange", dir: Ulduz Ahmadzadeh; WUK; Vienna (AT)
2017 Costume design assistant "Nathan der Weise", dir: Nikolaus Habjan, design: Denise Heschl; Volkstheater Vienna (AT)
2016 Costume design "Ideal Paradise", dir: Claudia Bosse; Vienna (AT)
2016 Stage and costume design assistant “Hose Fahrrad Frau”, dir: Holle Münster, design: Thea Hofmann-Axthelm; Volkstheater Vienna (AT)
2016 Stage design assistant (internship) "Hallelujah (Ein Reservat)", dir: Christoph Marthaler, design: Anna Viebrock; Volksbühne Berlin (DE)
2013 Set design "Eisprung mit Papa", dir: Paul Ploberger; Vienna (AT)
PERFORMANCE
2025 “We are the street that we forgotten", art direction: Iva Ivanova; 9 Elephants Festival; Sofia (BG)
2022 “Revolve", by: Iveilna Dokova, Hristiana Yordanova, Iva Ivanova and Kalin Mihov; R84 Multifactory; Mantova (IT)
2021 “Onetone”, by: Laura Endres, Nathan Watts and Iva Ivanova; Sofia (BG)
2020 "Heidi", /in production/ dir: Sachiko Hara and Iva Ivanova; Zurich (CH)
2018 “Export”, art direction: Iva Ivanova; Vienna (AT)
2017 "Export", art direction: Iva Ivanova; Shanghai (CN)
2016 "Echotecture", co-production Klangforum Wien; Vienna (AT)
2015 "Kill Will", art direction: Iva Ivanova; Vienna (AT)
2014 "Will Will" group show; Academy of Fine Arts Vienna (AT)
ARTIST- IN-RESIDENCE
2023 Little Bird Place; Leshten (BG)
2022 R84 Multifactory; Mantova (IT)
2022 Drama Pakt; Sinemoretz (BG)
2022 Baba Residency; Gorno Peshtene (BG)
2021 180° laboratory for innovative art; Sofia (BG)
2017 Swatch Art Peace Hotel (6 months); Shanghai (CN)
EXHIBITIONS
2025 “Shadow catcher”, KinderKunstLabor, group show; St. Pölten (AT)
2024 “Melba design festival”, Swimmingpool gallery, group show; Sofia (BG)
2023 “Made in Leshten”, Little bird place gallery, group show; Sofia (BG)
2022 “Weihnachtsbaum goes Wasserkirche”, Wasserkirche Zurich, group show and charity auction; Zurich (CH)
2022 “GERMAN”, former health center, group show; Gorno Peshtene (BG)
2022 “Climartistique”, Yought centre Vratsa, group show; Vratsa (BG)
2022 "fleisch 2,99", Creative cluster, group show; Vienna (AT)
2017 "Bobby the blue dog", Open Studio, Swatch Art Peace Hotel; Shanghai (CN)
2016 "Die Oma meines Bruders", Diploma exhibition, Academy of Fine Arts Vienna (AT)
2014 "Sehen und sagen", Hotel Le Meridien, group show; Academy of Fine Arts Vienna (AT)
2010 "Der Tiger von Venedig", Architecture Biennale Venice, Austrian pavilion, group show; ABK Stuttgart; Venice (IT)
PUBLICATIONS
2025 "Queer Sofia", july, Sofia (BG)
2024 "ВИЖ!" magazine, december-january issue, Sofia (BG)
2024 "Suboart magazine", issue nr. 30; Lisbon (PT)
2020 "The coventgardener", winter issue cover competition; London (ENG)
2020 "Der Streik", rehearsal drawings published by Schauspielhaus Zurich (CH)
2017 "Flip me down", self -published artist book; Shanghai (CN)
SOCIAL PRAXIS
2025 “Imprints of Memory” intergenerational project and exhibition; village of Ezerets, Shabla Municipality
2025 “Living Museum Sofia on Tour” art therapy initiative; village of Ezerets, Shabla Municipality
2025 Illustrations for the book “We Also Read Romeo and Juliet” (the first Bulgarian book in easy-to-read language for people with intellectual disabilities); The World of Maria Foundation
2025 Costume workshops for a theatre play for young people with intellectual disabilities; The World of Maria Foundation, Sofia
2025 Drawing workshops for young people with intellectual disabilities; The World of Maria Foundation, Sofia
2025- 2026 Drawing workshops for children and youth at KinderKunstLabor Museum; St. Pölten, Austria
2024- 2025 Art therapy sessions for children and adults from diverse social groups and age categories
2024 Founding of Living Museum Sofia- a therapeutic creative service for children and adults
2023 Drawing workshops at St. Ivan Rilski State Psychiatric Hospital, Sofia
2023 Certified Living Museum Director, trained within a methodology that integrates art, mental health, and community-based support.
2023 Art therapy project with patients at St. Gallen State Psychiatric Hospital, Wil, Switzerland
2022 Organization of a pop-up temporary hair salon for all ages (The Little Salon), village of Gorno Peshtene, Bulgaria
2022 Intergenerational doll-making workshop, village of Gorno Peshtene, Bulgaria
2022 Laugh therapy for adults and children, village of Gorno Peshtene, Bulgaria
SCHOLARSHIPS
2023 Internship in the Living Museum Wil (movement dedicated to the dissemination of art-asylums for mentally ill people)
2016 Scholarship for doing an internship abroad, European Union Erasmus (4 months in Berlin)
2016 Advancement scholarship ("Die Oma meines Bruders") from Austrian Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy