Lyuben Zidarov

Biography:

Born: In Veliko Turnovo, Bulgaria.

Education:

1948 – Painting in the National Art Academy, Sofia, in the class of prof. I. Petrov.

Born in 1923, Lyuben Zidarov is today one of the most recognizable and beloved Bulgarian illustrators, having dedicated more than seven decades to illustration for children and adults and to the art of the book.

After graduating in painting from the Sofia Academy of Arts in 1948, Zidarov began his career in the field of illustration, which he never abandoned. He has illustrated hundreds of books, including several different editions of classic works of world literature for young readers, such as Andersen’s Tales, Scheherazade’s Tales, Treasure Island, The Count of Monte Cristo, Tom Sawyer, and Tom Sawyer. The Prince and the Beggar “,” Uncle Tom’s Cottage “,” Hoffman’s Stories “, the tales of Oscar Wilde, the adventure novels of Carl May, Maine Reed and Jules Verne, as well as some of the most famous Bulgarian writers – Nikolai Raynov, Angel Karaliychev , Asen Raztsvetnikov.

Lyuben Zidarov is one of the creators of the painted comics in Bulgaria and the modern trend in Bulgarian illustration. He was also one of the founders in 1957 of the first illustrated children’s magazine in Bulgaria, Slaveyche.

His illustrative talent is appreciated worldwide – silver and gold medals at the book fairs in Leipzig and Moscow; winner of the Union of Bulgarian Artists  Award for illustration of the name of Boris Angelushev; he was among the finalists nominated for the Andersen International Prize and the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Prize.

Remaining in an active creative condition, Lyuben Zidarov is currently the oldest active illustrator in Bulgaria. In 2019, he painted the covers of the anniversary Bulgarian edition of the Harry Potter books. In 2020, the latest version (sixth for a period of 60 years) of the illustrations to Andersen’s tales was printed.

Selected solo-exhibitions:

1957 – Exhibition  drawings, Gallery “Graphika”, Sofia
1960 – Exhibition  drawings, Gallery of the Polish Artists, Warsaw, Poland
1977 – Exhibition paintings, Gallery of the Old City, Plovdiv
1979 – Exhibition paintings, Gallery of the Union of Bulgarian Artists, Sofia
1980 – Exhibition paintings and aquarelle, City Gallery – Vratza
1983 – Exhibition paintings and illustrations, Gallery of the Union of Bulgarian Artists, Sofia
1984 – Exhibition illustrations, City Gallery – Kurdjali
1985 – Exhibition illustrations, Bulgarian Cultural Centre, Budapest, Hungary
1989 – Exhibition  aquarelle,Gallery 133, Sofia
1991 – Exhibition  aquarelle,Gallery of the Union of Bulgarian Artists, Plovdiv
1993 – Exhibition  aquarelle, Aliance Francaise, Plovdiv
1993 – Exhibition paintings, City Gallery – Veliko Turnovo
1993 – Exhibition paintings, Gallery “Bonart”, Sofia
1994 – Exhibition illustrations, Gallery “Studio Spectrum”, Sofia
1994, 1996 – Exhibition paintings, Gallery “Аrt 36”, Sofia
1994 – Exhibition paintings, Gallery “Kristina”, Sofia
1995, 1997 – Exhibition paintings, Gallery “Makta”, Sofia
1998 – Exhibition paintings, Gallery “Romfea”, Plovdiv
1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 – Gallery “Vedart”, Sofia
2004 – Exhibition  aquarelle,Gallery “Ste”, Sofia
2006 – “Realized and unrealized Andersen”, illustrations, Sofia City Gallery
2007 – „The Back is Like the Face“, Rakursi Art Gallery
2008 – „Tears and Laughter, Laughter and Tears“, Gallery„Seasons“
2010 – „Micro&Маcro“, Rakursi Art Gallery

Awards:

Silver (1959) and golden medal (1965) from the International Exhibition of the Book, Leipzig, Germany
1963 – Medal “Cyril and Metodius”
1975 – Award for illustration of The Union of Bulgarian Artists
1976 – Honorary Diploma H. C. Andersen, Athens

His oeuvres are found in: The National Gallery of Art, Sofia, The Sofia City Gallery, Honk Ik University Gallery, Seoul, The Prince of Wales Art Collection, St, James Palace, London, Private art collections in Canada, USA, Norway, Finland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy.