Artist Profile

Orlin Mantchev (b. Bulgaria, 1962) is a contemporary Minimalist artist who unites Western and Eastern culture and values. Drawing on his love of nature and spirituality, he makes meditative paintings that are both authentic and profound, both uplifting and healing. His paintings have been widely exhibited in prominent galleries in Athens, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Montreal, New York, Sofia, St. John’s, and Toronto. His work can be found in the permanent collections of the Art Bank of Canada and the National Gallery of Bulgaria.

After selective competition in 1976, Mantchev was accepted to study at Bulgaria’s exclusive High School of Fine Arts, earning two scholarships over five years. Following six years of classical training, he graduated with a Master’s degree in painting from the prestigious Nicolai Pavlovich University of Fine Arts in Sofia in 1989. In 1990, he immigrated to Canada, making it his new home and establishing an art career that had already taken root in Europe. In 1994, after travelling to India and the Himalayas, profound spiritual experiences deepened Mantchev’s vision and perspective of art. This experience led to a process of simplification and a movement toward the contemplative.

Today, Mantchev remains devoted to his meditative style, actively contributing to the art scene by inviting the viewer to contemplate the beauty of nature.

Artist Statement

My art is meditative.

As an artist, I use multidisciplinary approaches to facilitate meditative experiences. The viewer is invited to engage with my work in a way that meets them where they are in the moment and then encourages a mindful journey. Over many years, I have been cultivating mindfulness in my daily life and in my creative practice, and this process has found organic expression in the shaping of my drawings and paintings and in workshops on mindfulness in art and design.

In today’s hectic life, overwhelmed with many competing ideas and flooded with imagery and every kind of sensory stimulation, I find that these stressful challenges bring the question, “Where am I in all of this?” For myself, I found after years of participating in this endless drama that I needed time off. Just being aware of the need to stop for a moment and take a breath of fresh air turned out to be a priceless gift. The cultivation of inner peace is a benefit that I feel compelled to share with others through my art. Truly, inner and outer peace have largely merged into one long-lasting creative inspiration.

Discussing and commenting on my art is of little importance to me. But sharing the experience of peace and finding a way to step out of our typical dualistic constructs for a moment through my art is very important. It gives me great satisfaction to know that the offer of this possibility is taken up and considered by the viewer.

Artist CV

Education

1989 M.F.A [Painting] Nicolai Pavlovich University of Fine Arts, Sofia, Bulgaria
1981 Diploma with Honours, Ilya Petroc High School of Fine Arts, Sofia, Bulgaria

Solo Exhibitons

2008 Elevated Landscapes, Gallery 133, Toronto, ON
2008 Land Meets Water, Delong Gallery, Toronto, ON
2007 Ecritures Sacres, Maleeva Rakoff Gallery, Paris, France
2005 Primal Breath, James Baird Gallery, St. John’s, NFLD
2002 Horizont, James Baird Gallery, St. John’s, NFLD
2001 Recent Works, Live Art Space, Toronto, ON
2000 Spanish Landscapes, Live Art Space, Toronto, ON
1999 Meditation In Colours, Live Art Space, Toronto, ON
1998 Primal Force, Live Art Space, Toronto, ON
1993 Mindland, James Baird Gallery, St. John’s, NFLD
1992 Night Planet, James Baird Gallery, St. John’s, NFLD
1991 Recent Works, Icons, St. John’s NFLD
1990 New City, GBU, Sofia, Bulgaria

Group Exhibitions

2008 Tinku Gallery Toronto, ON
2008 Deleon White Gallery Toronto, ON
2007 Reconstruction, Chatham Gallery, New York City, NY
2007 Pouch Cove Foundation Spin Gallery, Toronto, ON
2005 Gallery Artists, Kabat Wobel Gallery, Toronto, ON
2004 Two And Between, Kabat Wobel Gallery, Toronto, ON
2003 Abstract, James Baird Gallery, St. John’s, NFLD
2002 Scattered Seeds, James Baird Gallery, St. John’s, NFLD
2002 Recent Works, Jadite Galleries, New York City, NY
2001 Scattered Seeds, Union of Bulgarian Artists Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria
2001 Little Stories To Tell, Live Art Space, Toronto, ON
2000 Earth Works, Live Art Space, Toronto, ON
1999 Six + Six, MEG Gallery, Toronto, ON
1998 Recent Works, Live Art Space, Toronto, ON
1997 Light, Eastern Edge Gallery, St. John’s, NFLD
1997 Midnight Europa, La Comanella, Lugano, Switzerland
1996 Gallery Artists, James Baird Gallery, St. John’s, NFLD
1994 Surrender, Orangerie Benrath, Dusseldorf, Germany
1994 Names, Bunkerstudio, Dusseldorf, Germany
1992 Murart, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NFLD
1992 Wanderman, Icons, St. John’s, NFLD
1992 Annual Arts and Letters Competition, Memorial University Art Gallery, St. John’s, NFLD
1992 Flight 333, LSPU Hall, St. John’s, NFLD
1990 Bulgarian Art Exhibition, City Hall, St. John’s, NFLD
1989 Paintings From The Nicolai Collection, Hamburg, Germany
1989 National Exhibition, Sofia, Bulgaria