Women Artists and Architects in Bulgaria

Women artists and architects in Bulgaria had to work hard to be recognized. Like in many other countries, women studying at the Arts Academy were not initially allowed to take certain classes, such as nude-body drawing classes. However, this exclusion did not last as long in Bulgaria as it did in the West. By the late 1890s, after protests from some students, women were allowed to enroll in these classes.

The Women Artists Section

In 1928, the Women Artists Section of the Bulgarian Association of University Women (BAUW) was created. Its goal was to help develop the professional careers of educated Bulgarian women artists. Although women had been allowed to study at the Art School since it opened in 1896, the artistic world in Bulgaria was still not open to them. While there were many female actresses and musicians, female artists were often not given the same recognition. Many women artists rarely exhibited their work in independent or international exhibitions. Some even worked privately at home, becoming parlor artists, creating art just for themselves Travel Bulgaria.

Challenges for Women Artists

After World War I, some Bulgarian women artists went abroad to specialize, participate in exhibitions, and join new artist societies. However, their work was still not recognized in Bulgaria. They were not admitted to art societies’ boards, were not hired as lecturers at the Academy of Fine Arts, and did not have their works bought at exhibitions.

Exhibitions and Criticism

Despite these challenges, the Women Artists Section included nearly all professionally active women artists in Bulgaria. Between 1928 and 1943, three generations of women artists participated in the annual BAUW exhibitions. These exhibitions attracted a lot of visitors and sparked debates about women’s creativity. However, many critics described women’s work as imitative of men’s art and of low quality.

Encouraging Young Artists and International Recognition

Despite the sexist criticism, the Women Artists Section encouraged young women to create art. They helped ill and poor women artists and even took Bulgarian women’s art abroad. In 1937 and 1938, BAUW held an exhibition in Belgrade and Zagreb, which was very successful. The Section also motivated women artists to hold independent exhibitions, both in Bulgaria and abroad, and to participate in general art exhibitions.