Iliyan Lalev

Prof. PhD Iliyan Lalev is a faculty member at the University of Veliko Tarnovo, specifically within the Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Painting. His academic work focuses on contemporary art, painting, and new media.

His research interests include:

• Contemporary art theory and practice
• Painting techniques and innovations
• New media art forms
• Social realism in contemporary art
• Avant-garde and non-conventional art forms

Lalev's artistic research demonstrates a strong focus on social realism and contemporary artistic expression in Bulgaria. His work explores the relationship between art scale and social context, examining how art functions as both aesthetic expression and social commentary. He has been particularly interested in the evolution of Bulgarian painting from the late 20th century through contemporary practice, analyzing trends such as conceptualism, photorealism, and new figuration.

His recent work shows engagement with utopian concepts in art, the role of difficulty as an aesthetic category, and the relationship between art and social structures. Lalev has organized several curatorial projects and participated in artistic actions addressing cultural politics and institutional critique.

Prof. Lalev maintains an active exhibition schedule, with solo and group exhibitions at prominent Bulgarian galleries including Gallery "Stubel" in Sofia, Gallery "Rakursi," and Gallery "Rayko Alexiev."