Welcome Dear Visitor,

Over the years, the Anastasov family has dedicated itself to assembling one of the most comprehensive collections of this visionary artist’s work, spanning from 1939 when he graduated in Painting at the Bulgarian Academy of Arts till his departure from this world in 1975.

The Anastasov Family Collection contains over 600 paintings and drawings by Wassil Ivanoff (1909-1975) from various creative periods. Along with the emblematic cycle “Cosmos”, which established the artist as the creator of a style “Cosmic Graphics”, in the American Encyclopedia of Modern Art, the collection also includes lesser-known portraits, landscapes, still life, drawings of nude bodies, and abstract motifs. This rich and diverse selection offers a unique perspective on the artist’s evolution and depth.

As Wassil Ivanoff continues to gain recognition, I believe this collection presents an exciting opportunity for exhibitions, collaborations, or other curatorial projects. His most prominent works were exhibited from March to May 2019 in the Bulgarian National Gallery as an exhibition marking the 100th anniversary of his birth.

I would be delighted to explore possibilities for showcasing these works in a way that aligns with your gallery’s vision and program. If this interests you, I would love to discuss further and share more details about the collection. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch at your convenience.

Warm regards

Celestial Visions

The COSMOS CYCLE immerses the viewer in cosmic landscapes, celestial bodies, and the vast unknown. The monochromatic medium enhances the sense of depth and infinity, evoking a profound connection to the universe – a journey through space and beyond, captured in striking contrasts of white chalk on black paper.

Explore

Max-Pol Fouchet

EXHIBITION "TRIBUTE TO WASSIL IVANOFF"

"The oeuvre of Wassil Ivanoff belongs in Art's domain, definitely; and the skill manifest in his images, the very virtuosity with which he throws onto the black background the white or colored form, the certainty of his draughtsmanship and purpose, won't let one doubt that. Nevertheless, his artistry is but a means, a servant to a poetry, a thought, a vision transcending the purely esthetic accomplishment, revealing a singular depth, irreducible to any other, unique."

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Prof. D. Sc. Ch. Popov

WASSIL IVANOFF EYEING NATURE AND VISUALISING THE COSMOS

"As a matter of fact, the first show of Ivanoff's, comprising works from that Cycle, was opened in Sofia in 1964. A while after that, the New York Encyclopaedia of Visal Arts described him as the progenitor of a new direction in art, called Cosmic Graphic. This cosmic moment is the main reason why Ivanoff remained separated from the Bulgarian art mainstream of the 20th c."

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Kalin Nikolov

IN THE TIME OF TRUE ART

"Beyond or within the temporality of art! He kept in step with the quests of the current tendencies; he followed a profound and risky course for his oeuvre; he was the first Bulgarian abstractionist; and he was easily distinguishable by reason of his entirely individual philosophy and manner of working."

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Deyan Kiuranov, PhD

WASSIL IVANOFF, AS CREATED BY HIMSELF

"In 1971, Wassil Ivanoff, a visual artist, went to Paris from his native Sofia. For an artist from the People's Republic of Bulgaria, as it styled itself at the time, Paris was not only a place where one could meet world art; it was also part of the West, where art was seen differently, both aesthetically and in terms of market value. In terms of market value, Wassil Ivanoff's visit was not a success."

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“...We realize being in the presence
of one of those creators who are,
by rights, the guardians of light...”

Max-Pol Fouchet

Along with the emblematic COSMOS CYCLE, the Anastasov Collection houses over 600 works, including little-known portraits, landscapes, still lifes, drawings of nude bodies and abstract motifs.