History of the Gallery
The “Panev” Gallery was opened in March 1999. It is located in the most romantic part of Veliko Tarnovo – near the Samovodska Charshiya square. The gallery presents artworks by the Panev family.
Here you can discover the magnificent landscapes of Ivanichka Paneva from Veliko Tarnovo and the most beautiful corners of Bulgaria, the charm of the Bulgarian woman in her portraits, as well as her exquisite still lifes.
You will also find genre- and theme-rich paintings by the great Bulgarian artist, honorary academician of the Russian State Academy of Arts Hristo Panev, recipient of the state award “Cyril and Methodius” – First Degree for high achievements in the field of culture. His work is associated with the best examples of Bulgarian fresco painting, as well as poetic drawings, graphics, and watercolors.
You will be immersed in the rich palette of contemporary abstract and symbolic art by Gabriel Panev.
You will also discover the elegant, hand-decorated jewelry by Petya Paneva, as well as her modern, unconventional watercolors and painting collages.
With its high standards, the gallery can satisfy even the most refined tastes of the modern art connoisseur.
Entering the artistic world of the Panev family is a true delight. In recent years, Hristo, Ivanichka, Gabriel, and Petya have repeatedly offered such an experience to their admirers. In addition to the permanent exhibition in their own gallery in Veliko Tarnovo, they present new exhibitions in Bulgaria and abroad every few months.
In 2006, the gallery opened its own branch in one of the most beautiful places on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast — Kamen Bryag. A place where the muse never leaves you.
HRISTO PANEV
“The meaning of life lies in the refinement of the human spirit, and the highest expression of the spirit is art, through which the artist, in moments of inspiration, touches God.” – Hristo Panev
Hristo Panev is one of the greatest and most established artists in contemporary Bulgarian art. He works in the fields of painting, graphics, illustration, book design, and monumental arts.
His painting is characterized by expressionism, a rich color palette, and a wide variety of genres and themes. It is influenced by the Bulgarian icon and especially by Bulgarian fresco painting. His characteristic cycles include: Frescoes, Mythological Scenes, Biblical Themes, Life Themes: love, motherhood, music. One of his favorite themes, which he has developed repeatedly, is “Don Quixote,” the series of paintings inspired by Bulgarian folk songs, as well as memories from his childhood. He loves complex compositions and skillfully works with the characteristic means of contemporary world painting.
His graphic drawings are distinguished by clean, refined lines and are reminiscent of poetic expression.
His monumental works are in the techniques of sgraffito and dry fresco. The sgraffitos executed by him and his brother Pancho Panev are close in number to Guinness World Records.
Academician Hristo Panev is an eternally searching, restless spirit in contemporary Bulgarian art.
Born in 1942 in the village of Krepost, Haskovo region.
1969 – Graduated from the University of Veliko Tarnovo “St. Cyril and Methodius” – Graphics.
1976 – Became a member of the Union of Bulgarian Artists.
Solo exhibitions in Bulgaria:
Pernik (1973); Dimitrovgrad (1977, 2002, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2017); Pavlikeni (1983); Gabrovo (2003); Plovdiv (2004); Haskovo (1989, 1996, 2010); Ruse (1997); Nesebar (2004); Shabla (2011); Veliko Tarnovo (1971, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2007, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2019); Dryanovo (2010); Lovech (2011); Varna (2001, 2011); Sofia (1987, 1996, 2002, 2003, 2011, 2012, 2018); Velingrad (2019)
Solo exhibitions abroad:
Germany – Hameln (1991); Hanover (1992, 1996); Münster (1992); Hammelburg (1993, 2002); Mössingen (1997, 1998).
Switzerland – Bern (1993); Bremgarten (1993).
Austria – Vienna (1994).
Slovakia – Snina (2002).
Hungary – Budapest (2003, 2004, 2015).
Croatia – Grožnjan (2005).
Italy – Rome (2006); Cortona (2010).
Turkey – Istanbul (2011).
England – London (2016).
Romania – Bucharest (2016).
Azerbaijan – Baku (2019).
International innovation salons:
Sofia (1997) – Gold Medal
USA – Pittsburgh (1998) – Gold Medal
Cyprus (1998) – Gold Medal
Casablanca (1998) – Silver Medal
Honorary citizen of Dimitrovgrad since 2002.
Recipient of the Veliko Tarnovo Award for 2006.
2011 – Full member of the International Academy of Art at UNESCO “New Era.”
2011 – Participated in the first international art exhibition of full members of the International Academy “New Era” at the Central House of Artists in Moscow.
2012 – Participated in the exhibition “Many-Faced Russia” in the city of Vladimir.
2013 – Awarded the medal “Artist of the New Century” in the category “Artist of the Year” by the World Academy of Art “New Era” at the Academy’s exhibition in Istanbul, Turkey, for contribution to the development of contemporary European art.
2013 – Awarded the medal “1150 Years Since the Creation of the Russian Republic” by decision of the Russian Academy of Arts in Moscow.
2013 – Award for Contemporary Portrait in the category “Inspiring Work” at the 3rd International Art Exhibition in Gabala, Azerbaijan.
2013 – Accepted as an honorary member of the Russian State Academy of Arts with President Zurab Tsereteli in Moscow.
2013 – Diploma for participation in the exhibition “Many-Faced Russia” in Kazan, organized by the Russian State Academy of Arts.
2013 – Awarded by the Mayor of Veliko Tarnovo with a Second Degree Order for contribution to the city’s development in culture and art.
2018 – Awarded the “Golden Palette” by the World Academy of Art “New Era” for high achievements in painting, graphics, monumental art, and professionalism on the international stage.
2019 – Awarded the Order “Cyril and Methodius” – First Class by the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rumen Radev for high achievements in culture and art.
His works are part of the National Art Gallery, the Sofia City Art Gallery, almost all regional galleries in Bulgaria, and many private collections in Austria, Belgium, Germany, France, Switzerland, USA, Japan, Mexico, Turkey, Greece, and others
IVANICHKA PANEVA
Ivanichka Paneva is one of those artists deeply in love with the romantic corners of the Bulgarian landscape and the architecture of our ancient capital, Veliko Tarnovo.
Her landscapes of her hometown carry the unique atmosphere and color of an artist deeply connected to this city, whose rich historical destiny lingers in the space touched by only a few Bulgarian artists blessed with the divine spark of inspiration.
The paintings of Ivanichka Paneva affect us as if we have forgotten the familiar, and she reveals it to us—seemingly the same, yet different, transformed by her brush. This is Tarnovo, like an amphitheatrical stage of the visible, behind which lies a secret known only to her. It is as if she has given us her eyes so we can see the familiar in a new way. It is astonishing how in landscapes, interiors, terrains, flowers, still lifes—genres that repeat reality—she transcends this reality, dismantles it, and rebuilds it anew in her own artistic way: with her colors, tones, halftones, nuances. Perhaps “gamut,” “tone,” “halftone” are metaphors borrowed from music to describe painting like that of Ivanichka Paneva, where color becomes a symphony of hues.
Born in 1946 in Veliko Tarnovo.
1968 – Graduated from the University of Veliko Tarnovo “St. Cyril and Methodius” – Painting.
1978 – Became a member of the Union of Bulgarian Artists.
Solo exhibitions in Bulgaria:
Veliko Tarnovo (1976, 1985, 1996, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2016, 2018)
Stara Zagora (1978, 1995, 2000)
Nesebar (2004)
Dimitrovgrad (1995, 2000, 2017)
Ruse (2001)
Lovech (2010)
Dryanovo (2010)
Shabla (2011)
Varna (2011)
Plovdiv (2017, 2018)
Sofia (1986, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2011, 2014)
Velingrad (2019)
Solo exhibitions abroad:
England – London (1980, 2016)
Cyprus – Nicosia (1987)
Germany – Münster (1992); Hammelburg (1993, 2002); Mössingen (1996)
Netherlands – Alkmaar (2002)
Croatia – Grožnjan (2005)
Italy – Cortona (2010)
Hungary – Budapest (2007, 2015)
Turkey – Istanbul (2011)
Azerbaijan – Baku (2019)
Recipient of the Veliko Tarnovo Award for 2002.
First prize at the National Teachers’ Exhibition for Painting.
Award from the International Art Academy “New Era” with a nomination “Artist of the Year” for 2019, Azerbaijan – Baku.
International Innovation Salons:
East West Euro Intellect (1998) – Gold Medal.
Her paintings are part of the National Art Gallery, nearly all regional galleries in Bulgaria, and numerous private collections in England, Belgium, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the USA, and others.
GABRIEL PANEV
Gabriel Panev is a representative of the contemporary modern generation of Bulgarian artists. He graduated in Painting at the University of Veliko Tarnovo “St. Cyril and Methodius.” Even as a student, he sought his own path of artistic development. Growing up in a family of artists, he did not fall under the influence of his parents, but instead sought and found his own style and artistic signature, guided both by his creative views and by the newest tendencies of contemporary European art.
Passing through the influence of surrealist trends in Western European art, creating a series of paintings inspired by the beauty of the female body, he eventually reached the aesthetics of abstraction. Another direction in his art is fully influenced by his love for music, to which he dedicates pop-art portraits of his jazz, funk, and soul idols.
If we attempt to characterize his artistic features, we must note that his work possesses a rich and diverse color palette bearing the traits of modern painting. Furthermore, he uses symbols and signs from Christian and world culture, through which he achieves deeper suggestions and messages to the viewer. In summary, Gabriel Panev is a talented, modern, reflective contemporary artist whose creative achievements guarantee a rising trajectory in the field of contemporary modern painting.
Born in 1970 in Veliko Tarnovo.
1989 – Graduated from the Secondary School of Fine Arts in Plovdiv.
1996 – Graduated from the University of Veliko Tarnovo “St. Cyril and Methodius” – Painting.
Solo exhibitions in Bulgaria:
1999, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 – Veliko Tarnovo – Panev Gallery, UniCredit Bank, Investbank, Tarnovo Art Modern, City Art Gallery, “Rafael Mihaylov” Exhibition Halls
1997 – Ruse, Gallery M
1998 – Stara Zagora – UniCredit Bank
1998 – Plovdiv – Balabanova House
1998, 2015 – Haskovo – City Art Gallery
2000, 2017 – Dimitrovgrad – City Art Gallery
2004 – Nesebar – City Art Gallery
2002, 2003, 2011, 2014, 2015 – Sofia – “Rayko Alexiev” Gallery, National Palace of Culture, “Shipka 6,” “Sofia Press” Gallery
2010 – Dryanovo – City Art Gallery
2011 – Varna – “Marconi” Gallery
2011 – Lovech – City Art Gallery
2011 – Shabla – Green Educational Center
2013 – Burgas – “Bogoridi” Gallery
2013 – Gorna Oryahovitsa – City Art Gallery
2019 – Velingrad – City Art Gallery
Solo exhibitions abroad:
Europe:
Germany – Münster (1992), Hammelburg (1993), Mössingen (1996, 1997) – City Galleries
Denmark – Wilberg (1994) – City Art Gallery
Netherlands – Alkmaar (2003) – “Chicory” Gallery
Croatia – Grožnjan (2005, 2009) – “Delongolo” Gallery, “Marino” Gallery; Zadar (2009) – City Hall
USA: New York – Manhattan (1998); Massachusetts – Rockport (2002) – Art Gallery at the City Library; Boston (2002)
Hungary: Budapest (2007, 2016) – Bulgarian Cultural Center
Turkey: Antalya (2010); Istanbul (2011, 2012) – Art Gallery at the Bulgarian Exarchate; Çanakkale (2014) – City Art Gallery
Romania: Bucharest (2016) – “The Gallery”
United Kingdom: London (2016) – “Sofia” Gallery
China: Xi’an (2017) – Silk Road Exhibition at the Center for Contemporary Art
Azerbaijan: Baku (2019) – Arif Aziz Art House
Awards:
International Innovation Salons: Cyprus (1997) – Gold Medal
First Prize for Painting from the Boston Art Association: Boston (2002)
First Prize for Painting from the Annual Christmas Exhibition (2012) of the Society of Veliko Tarnovo Artists, supported by Rotary Club
Award from the International Art Academy “New Era” with the nomination “Artist of the Year” for 2019
For 20 years, Gabriel Panev has been the main organizer of numerous international art festivals and symposiums in various cities and resorts in Bulgaria. Throughout the years, he has participated in many group exhibitions, art festivals, and events in Europe, America, Africa, and Asia.
PETYA PANEVA
She graduated in Economics and Business Administration. She specialized in Design and Applied Arts. She has participated in numerous group exhibitions in Bulgaria and abroad, and in 2014 won the Second Prize at the International Forum “Women in Art” in Istanbul.
Exhibitions in Bulgaria: Sofia, Veliko Tarnovo, Haskovo.
Exhibitions abroad: Turkey, Azerbaijan, Croatia, Hungary, China.
Her paintings are owned in numerous countries: USA, New Zealand, Turkey, Azerbaijan.
She works in the field of collage and abstract art.
In recent years, she has presented her own hand-crafted jewelry to admirers in Sofia and Veliko Tarnovo.