Elenka Nazarova
Elena Vasileva Nazarova (1998) is a Bulgarian-born visual artist whose work combines different visual mediums in an aim to explore and highlight the underlying humanity in different contemporary societal contexts. Since 2016 after graduating Graphic Design in the “St. Luke National School of Applied Arts” in Sofia, Bulgaria, Elenka has been working as a freelance creative.
In developing her practice and personal artistic approach, Elenka has concluded 8 solo exhibitions in Sofia and Istanbul and taken part in numerous group exhibitions and festivals such as "Istanbul Contemporary" Art Fair 2022 & 2023 with Collect Gallery; "14 Manifesta Biennial 2022" with Institute of Contemporary Art, ICA Sofia; with work previously displayed in cultural venues like “Goethe Institut Bulgarien”; “National Palace of Culture”; "Plus359Gallery", “Sofia City Library”; “Rayko Alexiev” Gallery in Sofia; “Credo Bonum Gallery & Foundation” in Sofia; "Collect Gallery" Istanbul, Tr. etc. She is the author of the artist books: “VAISAKHA” 2017, and “TRIUMPH OF EMPATHY” 2018 – as of 2020, part of Martin Parr’s collection of photobooks preserved in “TATE” Gallery, London; and a former resident artist of contemporary art studio “Le Laboratoire De La Creation” in Paris, France (Sept 2019 – Mar 2020); ​
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In a more commercial practice of working as a freelance graphic designer and creator of visual content. Elenka has collaborated with various brands and event industry figures of which: “Beefeater Gin”, “Bulgarian National Radio” and others;
For the young artist, a major role in the shaping of virtues and passions for artistic exploration, as well as the search for creative solutions and alternatives has been played by numerous voluntary engagements and studies in areas of humanitarian work, ecology, sustainable agriculture, community projects of exchange and solidarity in urban and rural landscapes, alternative education and various work with children.
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Currently based in Mexico City.
Exhibitions
Solo:
2023
Love & Intimacy, A Reverence / Collect Gallery / Istanbul, Turkey;
2023
Collect Gallery presents: Elenka Nazarova / 18th Istanbul Contemporary Art Fair / Istanbul, Turkey;
2023
Rest Assured / Charta Gallery / Sofia, Bulgaria;
2022
TOWNSMEN project / Collect Gallery / Istanbul, Turkey;
2021
TOWNSMEN project / plus359 Gallery / Sofia, Bulgaria;
2021
CAMP LIFE / part of "FIG.Sofia" - Festival for Illustration and Graphics / INTRO Gallery / Sofia, Bulgaria;
2017
VAISAKHA project / Murgash Gallery / Sofia, Bulgaria;
2016
Graphic Works / Gallery 2.0 / Sofia, Bulgaria;
Group:
2023
New Ecologies / Swimming Pool Projects Space / Sofia, Bulgaria;
2023
Fear & Love / Sofia City Gallery - Vaska Emanuilova / Sofia, Bulgaria;
2022
Collect Gallery at the 17th Istanbul Contemporary Art Fair / Istanbul, Turkey;
2022
14 Manifesta Biennial / ICA Sofia - Self-splaining / Prishtina, Kosovo;
2022
Painting Symposium / City Gallery / Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria;
2021
HARVEST / Arosita Gallery / Sofia, Bulgaria;
2021
What's Next? / Credo Bonum Foundation & Gallery / Sofia, Bulgaria;
2021
What's Next? / City Gallery / Vratsa, Bulgaria;
2020
Radical Imagination Art Residency finale exhibition / Goethe Institute / Sofia, Bulgaria;
2019
Danubiart / 24h galerie urban arts forum / Regensburg, Germany;
2019
#pinkyourgame Beefeather gin / SOHO gallery / Sofia, Bulgaria;
2019
Tangled Situation - collaborative installation with Boyana Djikova / Gallery 2.0 / Sofia, Bulgaria;
2019
RGB = CMYK = B/W - Artist presentation / IMPERIA MAGAZIN / Stuttgart, Germany;
2018
Woodblocks Screen-printed / barehandssociety / Sofia, Bulgaria;
2018
15 Minutes of fame - Artist talks / FLUCA Austrian Cultural Pavillion / Sofia, Bulgaria;
2018
Generation Millennium / City Library / Sofia, Bulgaria;
2018
GENERATOR hosts: Urbanites / GENERATOR Design Space / Sofia, Bulgaria;
2018
Chasing Evil Spirits - Bulgarian Artists Union / Rayko Alexiev Gallery / Sofia, Bulgaria;
2018
Art Start: Artists to follow in 2018 / Goethe Institute / Sofia, Bulgaria;
2017
Generation Millennium / Sofia International Literature Festival / National Palace of Culture / Sofia, Bulgaria;