Iliya Zhelev

Iliya Zhelev, also written as Илия Желев, born 1961 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, is a famous Eastern European painter.

Life Iliya Zhelev, a European artist, was born in Plovdiv, Bulgaria in 1961. Throughout his career he has become iconic in his home country and well-known on an international level. His work has become popular in Germany through numerous successful solo exhibitions in galleries throughout the country. In 2005 EnBW, a large power supply company, sponsored an exhibition of his work. Zhelev's paintings are owned by the National Art Gallery Sofia, various private and state galleries and private collections in Germany, United States, Switzerland, Italy, Sweden United Arab Emirates, UK, Austria, Greece, France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Russia and Israel. Zhelev's influences include the artists Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky and Joan Miró. His paintings and collages are recognizable because of the unique style he employs. Zhelev fills his canvases with colorful and symbolically-rich squares in different formations, making his paintings stand out with their vibrancy and richness of expressiveness.

Selected exhibitions

2020 Chagall and Zhelev, Mensing Gallery, Konstanz, Germany 2019 Mensing Gallery, Hamburg, Germany Galerie Meisterstück, Nurnberg, Germany Galerie Kunststücke, Munich, Germany 2018 Bilder König Gallery, Darmstadt, Germany 2017 Haus der Kunst Gallery, Andreas Lendl, Graz, Austria Mensing Gallery, Berlin, Germany Mensing Gallery, Hamburg, Germany Mensing Gallery, Hannover, Germany Cameo Kunsthandel Gallery, Heilbronn, Germany Cameo Kunsthandel Gallery, Mannheim, Germany 2016 Mensing Gallery, Konstanz, Germany Galerie Meisterstück, Nuremberg, Germany 2015 Mensing Gallery, Hannover, Germany Mensing Gallery, Hamm, Germany 2014 Haus der Kunst Gallery, Andreas Lendl, Graz, Austria Cameo Kunsthandel Gallery, Heilbronn, Germany Cameo Kunsthandel Gallery, Mannheim, Germany 2013 Mensing Gallery, Konstanz, Germany Mensing Gallery, Munich, Germany 2012 Chagall and Zhelev, Mensing Gallery, Hamburg Gallery Haus der Gemalde, Nurnberg, Germany Chagall and Zhelev, Mensing Gallery, Berlin Gallery Aspect, Plovdiv, Bulgaria Gallery Prat, Linz, Austria Haus der Gemälde, Nuremberg, Germany 2011 Mensing Gallery, Berlin, Germany Mensing Gallery, Dusseldorf, Germany Gallery Burger, Munich, Germany Von Poll Gallery, Gruenwald, Germany 2010 Anquin's Gallery, Reus, Barcelona, Spain Gallery Aspect, Plovdiv, Bulgaria 2009 Mensing Gallery, Baden-Baden, Germany Mensing Gallery, Hamburg, Germany Mensing Gallery, Dusseldorf, Germany Tuyap Art Fair, Istanbul, Turkey Mensing Gallery, Hannover, Germany Mensing Gallery, Berlin, Germany Mensing Gallery, Hamm-Rhynern, Germany 2008 Mensing Gallery, Hannover, Germany Mensing Gallery, Konstanz, Germany Mensing Gallery, Hamburg, Germany Valor Sanat Gallery, Ankara, Turkey Art International Zurich, Switzerland 2007 Valor Sanat Gallery, Ankara, Turkey Kersten Art Gallery, Brunnthal, Germany Gallery Burger, Munich, Germany Art Bodensee, Dornbirn, Austria Rapp Art Gallery, Wil, Switzerland Tuyap Art Fair, Istanbul, Turkey St’art 2006, Strasbourg, France 2006 Schortgen Gallery, Luxemburg Kuhn Gallery, Liliental, Germany Kuhn Gallery, Berlin, Germany Aspect Gallery, Plovdiv, Bulgaria Mensing Gallery, Hannover, Germany Mensing Gallery, Dusseldorf, Germany Mensing Gallery, Hamm-Rhynern, Germany St’art 2006, Strasbourg, France 2005 EnBW Gallery, Stuttgart, Germany Gallery Burger, Munich, Germany 2004 Schortgen Gallery, Luxemburg 2003 Gallery Prannerstrasse, Munich, Germany Milenio Gallery, Venice, Italia 2002 Art Fair Frankfurt, Germany 2001 Prannerstrasse, Munich, Germany 2000 Hirnickel Art Gallery, Bad Kissingen, Germany Art Fair Frankfurt, Germany 1999 Galerie in der Prannerstrasse, Munich, Germany 1998 Europ' Art, Astra Art Gallery, Geneva, Switzerland Rathaus, Brühl, Germany 1997 Galerie in der Prannerstrasse, Munich, Germany Kersten Art Gallery, Brunnthal, Germany 1996 Hirnickel Art Gallery, Bad Kissingen, Germany Cebit Hanover, Germany 1995 Galerie in der Prannerstrasse, Munich, Germany 1994 Art Fair Frankfurt, Germany 1993 Galerie in der Prannerstrasse, Munich, Germany