Nikolo Balkanski began painting at very early age and graduated from the Medium Special Arts School in Sofia, Bulgaria, when he was 18.
At just 21, he held his first solo exhibition, “Time and People“, featuring portraits of some of the country's leading actors, poets and politicians, organized by his father, who is attorney, writer and poet.
This unique show garnered a lot of attention for the young artist, and he soon continued his studies at the art academy in Sofia, specializing in paintings.
After moving to Finland with his parents, he studied at the University of Helsinki.
In 1981, Nikolo's portraits of a variety of Finnish figures were exhibited in a show called "Finland in Portraits", organized by the Finnish-Bulgarian Friendship Society with chairman Pekka Silvola, director of the Finnish radio.
The show celebrated 1300 years of Bulgarian statehood.
In 1983, Nikolo's portraits were exhibited again, “Faces of Humanity” at the October Gallery in the United Kingdom.
The London exhibition become the subject of a BBC documentary.
Upon seeng Nikolo Balkanski's exhibition at the October Gallery in London, John Allen, art critic from United States described his work: "Alert a moment of being, engaged with a world that could dissolve to chaos but harmonized by attention... the portraits show individuals at a characteristic moment of meaning the fateful conjunction of type, personality and environment".
In 1984 and again in 1985, Nikolo was invited to Colorado to paint and to exhibit his work, but he returned to his home in Finland.
After his relocation to Evergreen, Colorado, in 1986, Nikolo began devoting more time to painting the western US landscape, although he continues to paint portraits, still lifes and figurative works to this day.
Over the years, Nikolo has been involved in countless solo and group exhibitions, including Artists of America, Great American Artists, Artists of the West,
The Brinton 101, Oil Painters of America, Stampede Western Invitational, Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale, The Russell Exhibition and Sale, Western Visions and others.
His works are represented in private, corporate and museum collections.
Nikolo Balkanski is Master Signature member of Oil Painters of America.
Awards
Premier Platinum and William E. Weiss Purchase Awards in 2012, Artist Choice Award 2007, and Mike Maier Memorial Award in 2006, C.M. Russell Art Auction, The Brinton Museum, Oil Painters of America - Presidents' Award of Excellence in 2013 National Show, Representing the West - Juror’s Choice Award 2007, Paint the Parks - Grand Prize Purchase Award in 2012, Colorado Governor’s Invitational where he received Collector’s Choice Award in 1999, Arts for the Parks.
Landscape Award of Excellence in 1995, Impressionist Award of Excellence - OPA; National Exhibition 2018, Gold Medal - OPA, Western Regional 2020, and many others.
Nikolo Balkanski ha iniziato a dipingere molto presto e si è diplomato alla Medium Special Arts School di Sofia, in Bulgaria, quando aveva 18 anni.
A soli 21 anni ha tenuto la sua prima mostra personale, "Time and People", con i ritratti di alcuni dei personaggi del paese protagonisti, poeti e politici, organizzato dal padre, avvocato, scrittore e poeta.
Questo spettacolo unico ha attirato molta attenzione per il giovane artista, che presto ha continuato i suoi studi presso l'Accademia d'arte di Sofia, specializzandosi in pittura.
Dopo essersi trasferito in Finlandia con i suoi genitori, ha studiato all'Università di Helsinki.
Nel 1981, i ritratti di Nikolo di una varietà di personaggi finlandesi furono esposti in uno spettacolo chiamato "Finland in Portraits", organizzato dalla Società di amicizia finnico-bulgara con il presidente Pekka Silvola, direttore della radio finlandese.
Lo spettacolo ha celebrato i 1300 anni di statualità bulgara.
Nel 1983, i ritratti di Nikolo furono nuovamente esposti, "Faces of Humanity" alla October Gallery nel Regno Unito.
La mostra londinese diventa oggetto di un documentario della BBC.
Dopo aver visto la mostra di Nikolo Balkanski alla October Gallery di Londra, John Allen, critico d'arte dagli Stati Uniti, ha descritto il suo lavoro: "Vigile un momento dell'essere, impegnato con un mondo che potrebbe dissolversi nel caos ma armonizzato dall'attenzione... i ritratti mostrano individui in un momento caratteristico di significato la fatidica congiunzione di tipo, personalità e ambiente".
Nel 1984 e di nuovo nel 1985, Nikolo è stato invitato in Colorado per dipingere ed esporre le sue opere, ma è tornato a casa sua in Finlandia.
Dopo il suo trasferimento a Evergreen, in Colorado, nel 1986, Nikolo iniziò a dedicare più tempo alla pittura del paesaggio degli Stati Uniti occidentali, anche se continua a dipingere ritratti, nature morte e opere figurative fino ad oggi.
Nel corso degli anni, Nikolo è stato coinvolto in innumerevoli mostre personali e collettive, tra cui Artists of America, Great American Artists, Artists of the West, The Brinton 101, Oil Painters of America, Stampede Western Invitational, Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale, The Russell Exhibition and Sale, Western Visions e altri.
Le sue opere sono rappresentate in collezioni private, aziendali e museali.
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