Artist Ivan Milushev to be Awarded at the "Kastra" Festival in Slovenia
Ivan Milushev, an artist and director of the City Art Gallery in Blagoevgrad, is among the five recipients of awards from the fifth edition of the large-format watercolor festival "Kastra". The festival will take place from August 26 to October 8, 2023, in Ajdovščina, Slovenia, under the auspices of the "Lokar Gallery". The organizers of the watercolor festival "Kastra" are in partnership with the Municipality of Ajdovščina, the International Watercolor Society of Slovenia (IWS Globe), and the Union of Slovenian Painters.
Bulgarian artist Ivan Milushev will receive an award sponsored by the companies "Tosla" and "Coоognotto" at the biennial international festival. He was chosen by an international jury among more than 180 artists from 45 countries who submitted their works for "Kastra" '23. Alongside him, Bulgarian artists Svetlin Sofroniev, Svilena Babukchieva, and Henrietа Maneva also participated in the competition.
The awards will be presented during the opening of "Kastra" on August 26 at the House of Culture in Ajdovščina. All awarded watercolors will be exhibited at the accompanying festival exhibition from August 27 to October 8, 2023, and the Gallery will be open for visits every day from Tuesday to Saturday, from 15:00 to 19:00 (free admission).
Ivan Milushev is a graduate of the National Art Academy and has been directing the City Art Gallery in Blagoevgrad for ten years. He has participated in over 40 solo and group exhibitions in Bulgaria and abroad. His professional career focuses on illustration, watercolor, graphics, and painting.
His artwork reflects a combination of Bulgarian and global influences, characterized by originality and innovation. His projects have garnered attention from the international community of artists and critics. Ivan Milushev's work was presented as part of the "Balkan Dialogues" program at the "Mission Gallery" in 2022, in the exhibition "Closeness", alongside his colleague from Turkey - Yaşar Ali Tahir.