Art Gallery "Stanka Dimitrova"

In one of the oldest and most beautiful buildings in Kardzhali, an architectural and cultural monument of local significance, treasures of Bulgarian fine art are preserved. The gallery features valuable works by great Bulgarian classical artists as well as contemporary Bulgarian authors.

The splendid art gallery in Kardzhali is named "Stanka Dimitrova," after one of the most prominent artists of the last century. In 1967, Stanka Dimitrova joined the art department of the Regional Historical Museum in the city, transforming it into the then Regional Art Gallery, where she became curator and director.
She participated in national art exhibitions and later held solo exhibitions in Kardzhali and Sofia. Dimitrova was a member of the Union of Bulgarian Artists from 1972, later becoming chairperson of the artists' society in Kardzhali. She was also honored as a citizen of Kardzhali, where she spent her final days, passing away on November 28, 1996. Her paintings are displayed in galleries in Kardzhali, Smolyan, Sofia, and other cities across Bulgaria.
The "Stanka Dimitrova" Art Department in Kardzhali was established in 1960 alongside the museum and opened in 1961 as a branch of the National Art Gallery. In 1967, it became an independent institution and a leading cultural center in Southern Bulgaria.
The gallery is housed in an old administrative building, declared a cultural monument, which was built in the mid-19th century as a Turkish konak (government office). In the early 20th century, it served the army, police, and state administration. Parts of the structure remain preserved in their authentic form to this day.
The "Stanka Dimitrova" gallery is the third richest art gallerywith a collection of over 3,200 pieces of fine art from different periods of Bulgarian culture, including paintings, graphics, sculptures, icons, and Revival-era prints.
The gallery is spread across three levels, each with distinct thematic exhibitions:

Level 1: Contemporary Bulgarian Art This level features works by contemporary Bulgarian artists, showcasing an impressive collection of paintings and sculptures from the 1980s and 1990s. Many of the featured artists have received international and national awards and have exhibited their works in Bulgaria and abroad. Artists in this captivating exhibition of paintings, monumental sculptures, and small bronze works include Emil Stoychev, Georgi Bozhilov, Hristo Simeonov, Vasilka Moneva, Volodya Kenarev, Nikolay Karadzhov, Encho Pironkov, Lika Yanko, Vezhdi Rashidov, Emil Popov, Pavel
Koychev, Ziyatin Nuriev, and others.

Level 2: "Old Masters" Exhibition This level is dedicated to significant works by major Bulgarian classical artists, donated by the National Art Gallery in the 1960s. The exhibition, titled "Old Masters," leaves a lasting impression on visitors with its emotional and artistic impact. The paintings, dating from the late 19th century to the 1960s, were created by some of the most iconic figures in Bulgarian fine art, including Anton Mitov, Ivan Mrkvička (notably his Portrait of Tsar Ferdinand), Jaroslav Veshin, Dimitar Gyudjenov, Nikola Mihaylov, Stefan Ivanov, Elena Karamihailova, Sirak Skitnik, Ivan Penkov, Vladimir Dimitrov–The Master (represented by four works), Bencho Obreshkov, Iliya Petrov, Bocho Donev, Dimitar Kazakov, Genko
Genkov, Stoyan Venev, Dechko Uzunov, Vasil Zahariev, Konstantin Shtarkelov, Vera Nedkova, and others. This makes the exhibition one of the treasures of Bulgaria's cultural heritage.

Level -1 (The Crypt): Icon Collection The gallery’s crypt features a precious collection of around 200 icons, dating from the Late Middle Ages to the Bulgarian Revival period (17th to early 20th century), as well as Revival-era prints. The icons were acquired during rescue missions in the late 1960s and 1970s from deteriorating and abandoned churches in the Eastern Rhodopes. The exhibition begins with priceless 17th-century icons and concludes with works from the early 20th century. Most iconographers were of Greek origin, and nearly all inscriptions on the icons are in Greek.
The "Stanka Dimitrova" Art Gallery has been operating as an independent cultural institution since 1967. Until 1999, it functioned independently within the municipality, and in 2015, it came under the auspices of the Regional Historical Museum in Kardzhali.

Admission Fees for the "St. Dimitrova" Art Department:

• Students, university students, and pensioners: 2 BGN
• Visitors over 18 years old: 4 BGN

Combined admission for the Regional Historical Museum and the "St. Dimitrova" Art Department:

• Students, university students, and pensioners: 3 BGN
• Visitors over 18 years old: 8 BGN

Free entry: Last Tuesday of every month
Children under 7 years old and persons with disabilities: Free of charge

Categories

• Landmarks
• Cultural landmarks

Features

• Access for people in wheelchairs

Regions

• Kardzhali city

Location