Premio Combat Prize

According to Gerlinde Schrammel
Three cornerstones comprise the primary characteristics of Ivan Illiev’s artistic work: his care for detail, his love of nature and his affinity for late Renaissance and Baroque painting.
Illiev lovingly represents and interprets his chosen subjects with meticulous precision. His education as a graphic designer and his extensive experience in this field has schooled his eye for detail, so that he may easily and humorously devote himself to his favorite subjects in painting.
His love of nature leads him to the exploration of landscapes and their vegetation. For the artist, plants are equivalent with the message: budding, growing and withering.
The artist’s love for the old masters is manifested in his technique and his use of rich detail. One cannot help but think about old masters such as Arcimboldo, or the Dutch paintings of still life.
Clear references to his Bulgarian origin are found in the rich splendor of color and form in the paintings of Ivan Illiev. The artist cannot, and will not deny a characteristic of the Bulgarian tradition: ornamentation. This may be found as a main theme in his paintings, and at the same time is an enduring component of his personal style.
Ivan Iliev
Artist, graduated in painting and graphics
Curriculum Vitae
1951
Born in Burgas, Bulgaria
1970-75
Study at the academy of arts in Sofia
Painting and graphics, book illustration and layout
1975-87
Free-lance artist
Participation in numerous group exhibitions
Participation in the 1., 2, and 3. International Graphikbiennale in Varna, 1. Award and several special recognitions for illustrations
Three one-man shows:
1981, 1982 in Sofia
1983 in Dimitrovgrad
Since 1990
Free-lance artist in Vienna
1991-2013
Numerous group and single exhibitions, among others, Palais Wittgenstein, Podersdorf am See, Station 3 (BVÖ), Festsaal TU Vienna, BAWAG Fondation, Wiener Festwochen, Weikendorf, Mödling’s Sala Terena, Wiener Neustadt’s Stadtmuseum, Istanbul, Sofia: art in the public area, Wiener Neudorf’s Altes Rathaus, Gallery Prisma Vienna. Gallery Avatar Vienna, Affinita e Contrasti 4 San Dona di Piave Venezia, Silver Award Winner of the „ShowArtist“ Emerging Artist Discovery Prise Fine Art Competition 2012, Finalist at the „2012 International Art Contest“ competition, Australia, Special Recognition for participation in the 4th art contest on Atravita .com, Participation in the Parallax Art Fair Chelsea Town Hall London February 2013.