My name is Anahid ILIEVA. I was born in 1986 in Plovdiv, a nice town in Bulgaria (Eastern Europe). I grew up in a very abstract period, right during the collapse of the Soviet Bloc. The artistic mind could describe this time as surreal: People were poor, the post communist architecture was left to ruin. We witnessed the breaking of all previous societal norms. Everyone was trying to find their place in this new world. Thinking about this period now, I can see that it was a great source of creativity and sparked the need to make sense of reality.
At the age of 15, I was accepted into the National Art School "Tzanko Lavrenov" which had an enormous impact on shaping my perception of the world and my personality. I was very close to my teachers and greatly respected their work and values. They taught me how to see the balance and beauty in everyday objects and places one wouldn't normally consider beautiful. That's the most significant gift I got from attending Art school. The way I perceive my surroundings is inspiring and constantly stimulates my imagination. I graduated from art school in 2004 and was accepted with excellence by The Academy of Music, Dance, and Fine Arts in Plovdiv. After the first year of my studies, I was invited to work in Italy and join the atelier of the famous Italian artist - Athos Faccincani. I lived near Lake Garda with a group of colleagues for almost two years. During this time, I witnessed and was part of the everyday life of a successful Italian painter. This was a truly fascinating experience for a young me: everything was brighter, more beautiful, more joyful, and it was contrasting with all of my previous beliefs about the life of an artist. Italy, with its beauty and joy, was a turning point in my artistic journey.
From that point onwards, I lived and worked for different periods in Bulgaria, Gibraltar, Spain, and Austria. I currently live in Vienna where I enjoy every corner of this beatiful city, and I dive deep in the rich culture and inspiring art scene of Austria.
Every painting I make is inspired by something I saw or experienced, there is a story behind every composition I choose to create. I love using symbols and hidden messages that the viewers can find and translate for themselves. I am a positive person, striving to find harmony in the world around me. I prefer using traditional techniques and materials: oil paints, colored pencils, and watercolors.
My believe is that our Earth needs more poetic souls and artists. For me to be successful means to achieve inner balance and to reflect it on to the world around us.
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