About
Sarieva / Gallery is a pioneering institution with a mission to showcase lesser-known and undiscovered artistic content from the Bulgarian and Balkan regions. Founded by Katrin Sarieva and Vesselina Sarieva, the gallery continues a family legacy rooted in Bulgaria's rich cultural sphere for centuries.
Sarieva / Gallery proudly represents accomplished artists with established careers while also maintaining a roster of artists with available works. Its core mission is to discover, rediscover, and nurture artistic talents.
The gallery's primary exhibition space is located in Plovdiv, Bulgaria's second-largest city and a significant cultural hub renowned for its rich history and vibrant artistic community. The gallery also maintains a permanent showroom in Sofia. Since September 2023, it has been actively programming and hosting exhibitions at DOT Sofia, as well as curating its art collection.
In addition to its exhibition program, the gallery is dedicated to fostering learning, dialogue, development, and contextualization around art through various forms and multidisciplinary projects. Complementing these efforts, next to the gallery's headquarters in Plovdiv, Sarieva / Gallery maintains a dedicated space for dialogue, analysis, and development, known as *Кабинет [kəbineˈt].
Gallery History
The gallery emerged and developed in an unfavorable environment for contemporary Bulgarian art and the art market, requiring the founders' long-term efforts to create the necessary context.
Following their family's mission, in 2004, Katrin Sarieva opened her first gallery in Plovdiv, named Sariev, with a focus on contemporary ceramics and photography.
In 2005, her daughter, Vesselina Sarieva, initiated a long-term and comprehensive strategy to create and develop a cultural audience, launching the "Night/Plovdiv" program for museums, galleries, and urban culture. This initiative led to the establishment of the Open Arts Foundation in 2007 and the creation of a community center in Plovdiv called artnewscafe in 2008 (now *Kabinet).
Gallery Sariev underwent a transformation in 2009, expanding its focus to encompass contemporary art in various forms.
In 2011, Vesselina Sarieva joined as co-director and both directors initiated Sariev Contemporary gallery. This institution for contemporary art, built on an international model, developed an impressive roster of represented artists, an expanded exhibition program, educational initiatives, active international engagements, and participation in art fairs. In the same year, they launched an educational program titled "Introduction to Contemporary Art." Sariev Contemporary gallery played a central pioneering role in gaining international recognition for Bulgarian contemporary art.
Following global events between 2000 and 2021, Vesselina and Katrin Sarieva announced a new stage in the institution's development. To emphasize a female approach and emancipation, they added an "a" to the family name Sarieva, distinguishing it as a female name in the Bulgarian language. Sarieva / Gallery expanded its geographic reach and initiated collaborative initiatives with organizations and collectors to further unfold its realm of ideas and provide the best possible support to the artists they work with.
Sarieva / Gallery
Art Brussels
International Contemporary Art Fair 2016
Installation view from SARIEV Contemporary’s booth. Artists...
15 Minutes of Fame
performative event
Part of the platform “Background: Young Artists” by gallery...
Working visit of the art critic
Oliver Basciano (ArtReview, London)
2016, part of the project “Working Visits for International...
Vanesa Popova
Opening of FUTURE UNFORGETTABLE PHASE I – In Defense of Solid Material, 2021.
Photography
Details
Yana Lozeva
Opening of FUTURE UNFORGETTABLE PHASE III – Under Deconstruction, 2021.
Photography
Details
FUTURE UNFORGETTABLE PHASE I – In Defense of Solid Material
Мария Джебелова, 2021.
Photography
Details
Rudi Ninov
Opening of FUTURE UNFORGETTABLE PHASE VI – Color Words In Prologue, 2021.
Installation
Details
- Photographer: Vanesa Popova
Vladimir Ivanov, Stanka Tsonkova - Usha, Sofia Grancharova
ECHO, 2022.
Collage
Details
- Photographer: Maria Djelebova
