Bio

Samuil Stoyanov (1975) is a visual artist born in Dobrich, Bulgaria. Currently he lives in Nairobi, Kenya. In 2001 he graduated from the National Art Academy, Sofia as MA in Ceramics and the same year he made his first solo show with paintings. Since then Samuil uses a big variety of media in his art practice.

Some of his solo shows are Reverse, 2017, Contemporary Space, Varna, Bulgaria, Evening News, 2014, Formatokomodo Gallery, Madrid, Spain and ON THE TOP – Exhibition of Samuil Stoyanov and its Effect on Global Warming, ICA – Sofia, Bulgaria.

Dec 2020 his video work is part of Shooting Ghosts, Online screening programme in cooperation with the Goethe-Institut Sofia (Curators: Kalin Serapionov, Krassimir Terziev). In 2019 Samuil’s works were part of Thank You Mr. Ruf. Exhibition in honor of Swiss collector and philanthropist Gaudenz B. Ruf, Credo Bonum Gallery, Sofia; curated by Vessela Nojarova and Open Art Files: Notes and footnotes, Kapana Gallery, Plovdiv; project by Open Arts Foundation, part of Plovdiv European Capital of Culture 2019; curated by Vera Mlechevska; video program curated by Krassimir Terziev and Vera Mlechevska.

In 2017 Samuil took part in The Image is No Longer Available, ICA – Sofia with curator Vessela Nozharova. In 2013 he was part of two big international events – The 5-th Moscow Biennial, entitled More Light, curator Catherine de Zegher and Sofia Contemporary Festival, Near, closer, together, curated by Ovul Durmusoglu. In 2012 Samuil Stoyanov participated in the 53th October Salon in Belgrade, Curators: Branislav Dimitrijevic and Mika Hannula.

In 2011 and 2009 Samuil Stoyanov won the RUF Award and BAZA Award – two of the biggest prizes for contemporary art in Bulgaria. The BAZA Award which is part of the Young Visual Artist Awards of The Foundation for a Civil Society provides him a residency at the International Studio and Curatorial Program (ISCP), New York in 2010 and also a solo show in ICA-Sofia Gallery, in the same year.