Rossen Donchev | Authentic Folklore

AUTHENTIC FOLKLORE
by Rossen Donchev

2 Series: AUTHENTIC FOLKLORE • WARM GRAY

AUTHENTIC FOLKLORE is a cycle of paintings, released on linen canvas, old wood, and panel. It brings together images and symbols from Bulgarian legends, myths, and traditions.
Rossen Donchev creates contemporary pictorial tales, searching for the roots of his colorful visions deep back in time.

The synthesis of images from Bulgarian folklore with Christian symbolism creates new philosophical-allegorical territories for the viewer to explore, contemplate, and analyze, seeking his own place in them. 

Rossen Donchev

Rossen Donchev is well known as a fine art painter and poet in the Bulgarian art world. He worked for over 20 years as a master icon painter in the famous Ethnographic Open Air Museum “Etara” near the city of Gabrovo. His team of icon-painting studios searches for, discovers, and popularises rare motifs from the Bulgarian Christian tradition, which has become a trademark of quality and professionalism.

Rossen is recognized as a master icon painter by the Bulgarian Chamber of Crafts and the Association of Masters of Folk Art. During all this time, he has also been working in the field of contemporary painting, combining oil technique with egg tempera substrates, natural pigments, or old wood and incorporating deep Christian symbolism and metaphors in his works. 

WARM GRAY

WARM GRAY is the artist’s latest project, in which he poses several important questions: about minimalism and monochrome, the path from drawing to the abstract, and archetypes and symbols. In this project, the author uses the classic techniques of working with mineral pigments and binder, harmonizing them with collages of natural fibers and fabrics. WARM GRAY summarizes the author’s diverse searches to the fullest extent. 

Rossen has held over 20 solo exhibitions and participated in more than 30 group exhibitions in Bulgaria, Italy, Romania, Greece, and Turkey.
His awards and nominations include the VI Balkan Quadrennial of Painting “Myths and Legends of My People”—Stara Zagora (2024), the World Biennale of Contemporary Art in Florence, Italy (2017), the National Triennial “Bridges”, Gabrovo (2017), the Hristo Tsokev Award of the Municipality of Gabrovo for artistic achievements (2014), and the Award at the Autumn Salon of Arts in Kazanlak (2011).
Donchev curated several projects in contemporary art together with local galleries and participated in various plein airs and international forums. He also released some of his own projects in literature and theater. He is the author of poetic, essayistic, and critical texts.

His most significant projects are PRE-COLUMBUS WORLD, PORTRAIT OF A VILLAGE, ULTRAMARINE INTERVENTION, and ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE SOUL.
In the last few years, Rossen has been working on his newest project, “Warm Gray…” which raises questions about minimalism and aesthetics in contemporary painting.
In 2010, he and his wife created a small gallery for contemporary Bulgarian art called ATELIETO in Kazanlak. Part of the gallery’s work is dedicated to developing the talent of gifted children and youth. 

The WARM GRAY exhibition opening will be held on June 17th, 2025, at the hall of the Union of Bulgarian Artists in Sofia.

Website: atelieto.gallery/Rosen-Donchev
instagram: @rossenartist
phone: +359 878 625062
email: atelieto2010@gmail.com