19 Facts About Bistra Vinarova

Bistra Vinarova was a Bulgarian artist and often credited as the first Bulgarian woman of the expressionist style.

Bistra Vinarova, known as Nona, was born on 6 November 1890 in Sofia, which at the time was in the Principality of Bulgaria of the Ottoman Empire.

Bistra Vinarova's parents were Elsa and General Varban Vinarov.

Bistra Vinarova's maternal grandfather, Georgi Valkovich was a noted surgeon and her maternal great-grandfather was Valko Kurtovic Chalakov, a member of the Chalakov family, who had been benefactors of the city of Plovdiv since the National Revival, building hospitals and churches in the city.

In 1910, Bistra Vinarova met her future husband, Simeon Radev, when he came to interview her mother, as General Vinarov's widow, for a book he was preparing Builders of Modern Bulgaria.

In 1911, Bistra Vinarova moved to Dresden, to continue her studies with Ferdinand Dorsch.

Bistra Vinarova became part of the German expressionist group known as Die Brucke and participated in their exhibitions.

Bistra Vinarova became noted among the European avant-garde Expressionist circle which included artists like Otto Dix, Conrad Felixmuller, Oskar Kokoschka and Bulgarian artists Bencho Obreshkov and George Papazov, among others.

Bistra Vinarova was a correspondent of Rainer Maria Rilke, whom she had met by chance at a Rodin exhibit.

Bistra Vinarova began exhibiting her works in 1915, and participated in numerous exhibits.

Bistra Vinarova created works in a variety of media including oils and watercolor as well as genres including expressionist painting, graphic art, sketching, and woodcutting.

Bistra Vinarova was one of the first expressionist Bulgarian painters, and the first known woman painting in the style.

Bistra Vinarova's works were noted for their recognizable style, her ability to capture the movement of natural forms and shapes, as well as the uncertainty of the relationship between man and nature.

Bistra Vinarova was well-known for her charm and during her Washington, DC days, created a stir when she appeared at one embassy reception in a dress with a crinoline designed in the style of the Second French Empire.

Bistra Vinarova's works were barred from exhibitions and her husband was fired.

Bistra Vinarova continued to produce art until 1963, when she lost the use of her left hand and became too ill to continue working.

Late in her life, Bistra Vinarova was recognized by twice receiving the Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius and later received the Red Flag of Labor.

In 2010, her son, Traian Radev donated the family art collection containing over 740 of Bistra Vinarova's works, including 200 paintings, and 90 works from Otto Dix, Felixmuller, Obreshkov, Panayot Todorov Hristov, Konstantin Shtarkelov and others, to the Central State Archive.

In 2016, a second showing of Bistra Vinarova's work was held for the 65th anniversary of the Central Archive.