Biography
Born in 1999 in Sofia, Bulgaria.
In 2022 and 2024 Vassilena graduates BA and MA in Metal Department, Faculty of Applied Arts, National Academy of Arts in Sofia. She is currently a lecturer at the Metal Department, National Academy of Arts.
She works primarily in the field of medallic sculpture and coin design. Her practice also focuses on metal sculpture for both interior and exterior spaces, as well as jewellery. Driven by a strong interest in experimentation, she often combines metal with natural materials such as glass, wood, and ceramics. A central theme in her work is the past—both in its own right and as it resonates in the present—exploring the relationship between what once was and what is.
Vassilena is a member of FIDEM (Fédération internationale de la médaille d’art) – International Art Medal Federation.
Exhibitions
2025
• "33 Years of the Metal Department at the National Academy of Arts" - exhibition of students and graduates from the Metal Department, Academy Gallery, Sofia
2024
• "MEMORY FRAGMENTS" - first medallic sculpture solo exhibition, Resbiomed Eye clinic, Sofia• "The Present ones" - student exhibition of the Metal Department, Faculty of Fine Arts, Thracian University, Edirne, Turkey • "The Graduates" - exhibition of the graduates from the Metal and Textile - Art and Design Departments, San Stefano Gallery, Sofia • Exhibitions of five majors from the Faculty of Applied Arts and Design at the National Academy of Fine Arts, Nova Gallery, Dimitar Dobrovich Art Gallery, May Gallery, Sliven, Sea Casino Cultural Centre, Burgas • "Art From The Future“ - joint exhibition of students from the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, Poland and the National Academy of Arts, Academy Gallery, Sofia
2023
• XVI International symposium of medals, Kremnica, Slovakia • XXXVII FIDEM World Congress, Florence, Italy • 14th International Medallic Project „SYMBIOSIS”, Poland/Japan • "The Present ones" - student exhibition of the Metal Department, Sredetz Gallery, Ministry of Culture, Sofia • Production of awards for the National Meeting of the Financiers of the Municipalities in Bulgaria, FLAG Fund • Wooden sculptures for exterior under the project "Student Practices - Phase 2" at the Ministry of Education, South Park, Sofia • Project "Open/Closed Spaces", Sculpture Studio, Metal Department, National Academy of Fine Arts • Faculty of Applied Arts Students’ Exhibition, Hristo Tsokev Gallery, Gabrovo, Bulgaria • „Iron & Steel” metal workshop for medallic sculpture, Sofia, Bulgaria
2022
• Faculty of Applied Arts Students’ Exhibition, Metodi Meta Petrov Gallery, Tsaribrod culture center, Serbia • Competition for an award statuette for Buzludzha Project Foundation, Sofia, Bulgaria • Design and making of partnership awards for "15 years FLAG Fund", Sofia, Bulgaria • “Jewelry & Objects” Exhibition, “33 Project”, Ramjuly Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria • Summer academy and Sculpture symposium “Wood Sculpture”, Ahtopol, Bulgaria • "Open/Closed Spaces" project, Sculpture Studio, Metal Department, NAA, Sofia, Bulgaria • „Iron & Steel“ metal workshop for medallic sculpture, Sofia, Bulgaria
2021
• XXXVI FIDEM Art Medal Congress, Tokyo, Japan • 28th BAMS Student Medal Project, UK • „TRANSFORMATION“, 12th lnternational Medallic Project, Poland/Japan • „HOMAGE ТО...“ 16th lnternational Medallic Project, Bulgaria • "IN THE BEGINNING IS NATURE 2", National sculpture exhibition, Curatorial project medallic sculpture - Prof. Bogomil Nikolov, Union of Bulgarian Artists, Sofia, Bulgaria • “The art of miniature”, 8th International Biennial, Ruse Art Gallery, Ruse, Bulgaria • “Contact zones - Fire and Earth” sculpture exhibition, Union of Bulgarian Artists, Sofia, Bulgaria • “Contact zones - Fire and Earth” sculpture exhibition, culture complex “The candle foundry”, Sveshtari, Bulgaria • Summer academy and Sculpture symposium, Bratsigovo, Bulgaria • Summer academy and Sculpture symposium, Pamporovo, Bulgaria • “365 Experiences”, jewellery exhibition, Le Papillion Art Gallery, Varna, Bulgaria
2020
• "ТНЕ MEDAL - THIS IS МЕ“, 15th lnternational Medallic Project, Bulgaria • "Mirror images", jewellery exhibition, Le Papillon Art Gallery, Varna, Bulgaria
2019
• „WE ARE ... ТНЕ НОРЕ“ 14th lnternational Medallic Project, Bulgaria • "Zoomorphic shapes", student exhibition, NG Applied Arts “St. Luke”, Sofia, Bulgaria • “Wood and Metal Art Objects”, State Institute for Culture, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Mission Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria
Awards
2024
• Award of the National Academy of Fine Arts for Graduated Masters - residency - specialization at Cité Internationale Des Arts, Paris, France • 2nd and 3rd prize in a national anonymous competition for a silver commemorative coin "125 Years of Athletics in Bulgaria" of BNB
2023
• First prize and realization in a national anonymous competition for a silver commemorative coin "200 years since the publication of the Fish Primer" of the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB)
• Third prize in a national anonymous competition for a gold commemorative coin "St. Peter and St. Paul" of BNB • Participation scholarship for XXXVII FIDEM World Congress, Florence, Italy • "The George Cuhaj Prize for young artists under 30”, USA
2022
• Distinction for excellence in the "Arts" category of the 15th edition of the “National Student of the Year 2021” Prize • 3rd place in a national anonymous competition for a silver commemorative coin "100 years since the foundation of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee" for BNB
2021
• “Ann Shaper Pollack” Annual Student Award for Excellence in Medallic Sculpture • 1st prize and implementation in a national anonymous competition for a copper commemorative coin "150 years since the birth of Panayot Pipkov" for BNB • 3rd prize in a national anonymous competition for a silver commemorative coin "Great Crested Grebe” for BNB
Participations and implementations with:
