Lika Yanko – Journey to the Image

Apr 29, 2026 12:00 AM / Sep 5, 2026 12:00 AM

The National Gallery holds one of the largest and most representative collections of works by Lika Yanko (1928–2001), thanks to a generous donation made by the artist during her lifetime.

Following the major exhibitions of 2002 and 2011, which presented her work within a broad chronological framework, “Journey to the Image” focuses on the early period of Yanko’s artistic development.

The exhibition’s title highlights two main themes. The first is connected to the 1960s – the decade in which Lika Yanko was at the beginning of her artistic journey, searching for her own truth in art through the images and places of the world around her.

At the same time, this “journey” was not a solitary one. Like other female artists of her generation, Yanko developed in an environment where new forms of artistic expression were being explored beyond the strict conventions of official art. Artists associated with this creative milieu include Vanya Decheva, Dora Kancheva, Olga Valnarova, Mimi Veselinova, Rayna Vuncheva, Kostadinka Tsvetkova and Zheni Mehandzhiyska.

The exhibition also draws attention to a less explored aspect of Bulgarian art history – the place and role of women artists. The selected works and documentary materials shed new light on this subject and contribute to a more complete understanding of Bulgaria’s artistic heritage.