Veselin Staykov

Veselin Staykov is one of the most interesting and significant Bulgarian artists who worked in the middle of the last century. His inimitable style received high praise and international recognition as early as the 1930s. Known as a master of wood engraving worldwide, in fact, Staykov studied Painting in the National Art Academy, in the class of Prof. Boris Mitov, Prof. Nikola Marinov and Prof. Tseno Todorov. However, the decisive commitment to graphics was the result of Veselin Staykov's meeting with Prof. Vasil Zahariev, with whom the young artist studied the techniques of black and white art. Success was not long in coming in 1936 Staykov was awarded a gold medal at the Second International Woodcut Exhibition in Warsaw. In 1937 his work "Ringing" received the Grand Prix at the Paris Exhibition. These achievements were followed by independent exhibitions of Veselin Staykov in Munich (1938), Prague (1956), Berlin (1961), Sofia and in his hometown Peshtera (1957). He participated in exhibitions in our country and in Paris, Rome, Chicago, New York, Beijing, Vienna, Moscow, Venice, New Delhi, Mexico, etc. Since 1946 Veselin Staykov is an associate professor and later a professor at the Art Academy in Sofia, where he trained a whole generation of graphic artists.Another contribution of Staykov to the development of Bulgarian art is the introduction of the lithography technique - he was the first Bulgarian graphic designer who created engravings on metal and linocuts.

1906 – Born in Peshtera.

1925 - Enrolled the Academy of Arts in Sofia, studied painting in the class of Prof. Boris Mitov and Prof. Nikola Marinov.

1932 – Graduated painting at the Art Academy in the class of Prof. Tseno Todorov. He studied graphics as an elective with Prof. Vasil Zahariev.

1933 – Works at the State Printing House in Sofia.

1936 - Receives a gold medal at the Second International Woodcut Exhibition in Warsaw.

1937 – Gold medal from the Paris Exhibition.

1938 – Solo exhibition in Munich, Kunst Ferein Gallery.

1940-1942 – He specialized in painting in Italy in the atelier of Felice Karena.

1946 – Won a competition for a docent at the Academy of Arts.

1952 – He received the title of Laureate of the Dimitrov Prize

1956 - Solo exhibition in Prague.

1957 – Solo exhibition in Peshtera.

1958 – Solo exhibition in Sofia. Visits China.

1961 – Solo exhibition in Berlin.

1965 – Participated in the Autumn Salon in Paris.

1970 – Died in Vienna.

1972 – Posthumous exhibition in Sofia.

1977 – Posthumous exhibition in Sofia and Plovdiv.

1986 – Jubilee exhibition in Sofia, dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the artist's birth.

2006 – Jubilee exhibition in Sofia, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the artist's birth.