To collect contemporary art: Unveiling New Perspectives

“For the collector of "old" art, most choices have already been made. For the contemporary art collector, they are forthcoming, they are his - difficult, problematic, sometimes false or wrong. He is a traveler into the future, where everything is still only possible.”

Driven by the idea that contemporary art can create a space in our lives to better situate ourselves and our place in the world and believing that art is accessible to all as a necessary part of our living space and lifestyle, our team laid the foundations of the project To Collect Contemporary Art.

Through various partnerships, curatorial choices of authors, topics, works, special events and publications in the field of contemporary art and culture, the platform aims to present in different parts of Bulgaria and the world, as well as in the digital space, trends and ideas about art , which best fit the definition of “contemporary”. Its mission is to unite and include more and more circles of art lovers, as well as to participate in the process of education and development of the public and ultimately to create avid collectors.

Current project

PAST PROJECTS

Raw Perspectives

Exhibition by Todor Rabazhiyski

In Raw Perspectives, we enter a visceral world of contradictions: beauty and decay, the sacred and the profane, the personal and the collective. This exhibition invites viewers to confront the fragmented reality of contemporary existence, where art, technology, and human experience collide in unexpected ways.

The works on display, deeply inspired by the raw poetics of the artist’s vision, reflect a landscape shaped by plasma-cut metal, muted moans, and flattened scraps—a metaphorical “tower town” where meaning is simultaneously sought and subverted. The sculptures, installations, and multimedia pieces in this exhibition explore the human condition as a continuous climb and fall, a struggle to reconcile fleeting beauty with existential absurdity....

Limnos Land Art

In the beginning of June 2024, and continuing annually, a new land art installation emerges, breathing new life into the landscape. This yearly evolution mirrors the island's natural rhythm and the dynamic nature of contemporary art. 'Limnos Land Art' is an immersive project that transforms the landscape in front of Keros Blue Hotel in Limnos, Greece, into an evolving gallery of land art installations. Each year, 'To Collect Contemporary Art" team will carefully sculpt the land to reveal new perspectives and narratives.

For its inaugural installation, we are proud to present Kalina Dimitrova's 'Tumbleweed."

Verticality (& other spatial orientations)

Exhibition by Stela Vasileva. Curated by Boyana Dzhikova

Stela Vasileva’s exhibition at +359 Gallery deals with how the body experiences architecture. As a continuation of a long-standing site-specific practice, the artist concentrates on the properties of the water tower, such as its verticality and spiral structure.

Her work is both a response to the form of the gallery, absorbed into her muscles and then transferred into a work of art, but also one that refers back to the tower. It is an invitation to deeply understand the architectural space, engaging all your senses through the body.

INHABITANTS

The "Inhabitants" sculptures by Martian Tabakov were photographed by the +359 Gallery team at several sites developed under the Operational Program "Environment 2014-2020". These sites are often located on the outskirts of populated areas or remain hidden below the surface of our daily lives and the surrounding infrastructure. Despite their obscurity, they hold great importance to our existence as a society that is concerned with its future and bears responsibility for the environmental footprint it leaves for future generations.

Discover contemporary art with GTC

We envision a dynamic collaboration between GTC and “To collect contemporary art” platform to host contemporary art event that celebrate creativity, innovation, and cultural exchange.

The event will showcase a curated selection of artworks by emerging and established Bulgarian and international artists, representing diverse artistic disciplines and perspectives in the sleek and modern setting of the common areas at the Advance Business Center.

KUNST TRIFFT GOLF

Similar to how St. Oswald Golf Course is embedded in the natural form of the area, we aim to blend the nature, the game and the contemporary art in a new type of event.

That’s why we selected more than ten artists with their unique artworks, suitable for outdoor display, transforming the ordinary game experience into an exciting art event. Expected to run until the end of September 2022, the exhibition is a perfect complement to golf and also an excellent alternative activity for families looking to spend a few hours away from home.

"To collect contemporary art"

- a journey into the future where everything is still possible Collection Vladimir Iliev Curators: Ivo Milev, Boryana Valchanova

"For the collector of 'old' art, most choices have already been made. For the collector of contemporary art, they are ahead, they are his - difficult, problematic, sometimes false or wrong. He is a traveler into the future, where everything is still only possible.

Lika Yanko Drawings

Awards: The Sofia Municipality Award for Outstanding Achievements in the Field of Culture for 2020.
Collection of Vladimir Iliev and Alexander Toshev. Curated by Ivo Milev
7/11/2019 – 8/03/2020
The unique presence of Lika Yanko (1928–2001) on the Bulgarian art scene was marked by one of her few public exhibitions, censored and closed in 1967. The reason was a number of artworks ‘not meeting the requirements’. However, this trauma did not prevent the artist, in the years to come, from tenaciously building her own childishly spontaneous and biblically wise world of images and forms. ...

Spaces

+359 Gallery was founded in 2017 in the building of a preserved water tower in the “Lozenets” district of Sofia, Bulgaria where eight site-specific exhibitions are organized annually.

Collect Gallery was founded in 2022, and produces projects that bring together artists, works, and ideas that meet the definition of “contemporary” at its venue in Istanbul, Türkiye. Despite its specific geographical location, the gallery produces content internationally.

Charta Gallery, founded in early 2022, is located in the heart of Sofia city. Charta’s exhibition plan aims to present a permanent display of both classical and contemporary art, and at the same time, be engaged in the field of art publishing.

Corporate world meets art

Optimize your space and show the world your identity, philosophy and commitment by welcoming contemporary art and a cultural program into your offices.

OUR Partners

We are proud to collaborate with our esteemed partners.