Internationally renowned muralist and professor Oleg Gotchev will have his work showcased starting Friday, March 18, at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.
The exhibition focusing on Gotchev and the development of contemporary Bulgarian murals runs through Friday, April 15, in the KOA Art Gallery of Blaisdell Hall. It is part of the university's Spectrum Series.
Gotchev will give a gallery talk starting at noon Friday in the Webb/Bradford Forest Rehearsal Hall (Room 138) in Blaisdell Hall. A reception will start at 12:30 p.m. in the KOA Speer Electronics Lobby.
Gotchev, who heads the mural program at the National Academy of Art in Sofia, Bulgaria, is currently teaching a Mural Design class at Pitt-Bradford since January as part of being a Fulbright Scholar.
More than 100 pieces of artwork will be displayed, including 29 mixed-media paintings on paper and 50 small drawings. Most of the paintings will be featured separately, and six of them will be grouped by two in a single frame. Sixteen small drawings are framed in one frame. Some of the artwork includes erotic content.
In addition to Gotchev's personal work, nine frames will illustrate mural project layouts, color studies variations, detail views, sketches and architectural section views of his past mural projects.
Part of the exhibition is about spirituality. Gotchev called his upcoming exhibit "different."
Besides Gotchev's work, 11 large digital color prints by established Bulgarian muralists will be part of the exhibition.
Kong Ho, associate professor of art and director of interdisciplinary arts and art programs at Pitt-Bradford, said this exhibition will be more than meets the eye.
"This exhibition will reveal not only a professional European muralist's intimate work with precise painting skills and diverse drawing and painting mediums, but also the development of contemporary Bulgarian muralists with diverse styles and expressions via a Fulbright Scholar's professional selection," he said. "Also, this exhibition will mark the beginning of a continuous cultural exchange between the National Academy of Art and Pitt-Bradford."
Pitt-Bradford is Gotchev's 16th personal exhibition. He has also exhibited in London; Dusseldorf, Germany; Geneva; Paris; and Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Like many artists, his love for art dates back to his childhood.
"All my life, from early childhood, I have been always drawing," Gotchev said. "That's what I am always best at."
So focused on art as a child, he would remain in the same spot for hours.
"My mother told me I was an easy child because she told me all I needed was a paper and pencil," he said.
Gotchev graduated from the National Art Academy of Sofia.
The art gallery is open from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:30 to 6 p.m. Friday. The gallery is closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
More information about the Spectrum Series is available by contacting Patty Colosimo, assistant director of arts programming, at (814) 362-5155.
For disability related needs, contact the Office of Disability Resources and Services at (814) 362-7609 or clh71@pitt.edu.