Alexander Telalim


Alexander Telalim is a Ukrainian and Bulgarian visual artist. He graduated from the Grekov Odesa Art School in Odesa, Ukraine, and then from the National Academy of Arts in Sofia, Bulgaria. He lives and works in Sofia.
Telalim is one of the Bulgarian artists working predominantly in watercolour. He combines the natural fluidity of watercolour with the power of sharp lines, creating amazingly vivid and emotional works. His paintings harmonize visions of childhood with his philosophy. The conciseness of his medium highlights the depth and expressiveness of his watercolours in the heritage of Zen philosophy. He also works as a calligrapher and book illustrator.
He is a member of the Union of Bulgarian Artists and has had more than 60 solo exhibitions in Europe, the USA and Japan.
Telalim's artworks can be found in numerous private collections in Europe and the US, as well as in public collections of the City Gallery of Izmail, the municipality of Saint Louis, the Bulgarian Consulate in New York City, the municipality of Weimar and the Ukrainian Consulate in Sofia.

Career

  • 2002: International ceramic workshop, Troyan, Bulgaria
  • 2003: Mural "The Magic Theater", The National Academy of Theater and Film, Sofia
  • 2004: International watercolor workshop, Nova Zagora, Bulgaria
  • 2004-07: Design line for the FPI hotels, Sofia and Varna, Bulgaria
  • 2009: "Watercolor Dreamscapes" workshop, Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago, IL

Selected group exhibitions

  • 1983-95: Group shows in Izmail and Odesa, Ukraine
  • 1997: National exhibition "Bulgaria — Drawing '97", Sofia, Bulgaria
  • 1999: National exhibition "Bulgaria — Drawing '99", Sofia, Bulgaria
  • 2000: "Spiritual Messages", Vitosha Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria
  • 2002: "Sails", "Sea of Forms" Art Festival, Golden Sands, Varna, Bulgaria
  • 2004: Around the Coyote Art Festival, Chicago, USA
  • 2007: "Trace of Water", Bulgarian Consulate in New York,, New York
  • 2009: "Belle Mistique", Gallerie MK, River Nord Art District, Chicago
  • 2010: "The Light of the Winter Star", Ukrainian National Museum, Chicago, USA
  • 2011: "The First Flight" exhibition by contemporary Bulgarian artists, Sofia Gallery, London
  • 2013 "Summer Fusion", Collection Red showcases the talents of artists from the former Soviet Union, Kensington, London

Selected solo exhibitions

  • 1997: "Water Reflections", City Art Gallery, Izmail, Ukraine
  • 1999: Gavrilova Gallery, Saint-Louis/Basil, France
  • 2000: "Bridges" — "Bulgaria — Slavonic World" Museum, Sofia, Bulgaria
  • 2001: "Message from the West" — Sachie Ikeda Gallery, Kagava, Japan
  • 2002: "Gift for Lovers — 14.02", Galeros Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria
  • 2006: "Balkanica" Cultural and Art Center, Sofia, Bulgaria
  • 2007: "Awake and Dreaming" — Grita Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria
  • 2008: "The Flowers", Papillon Gallery, Varna, Bulgaria
  • 2009: "Watercolors", Ukrainian National Museum, Chicago, USA
  • 2010: "Morning in the Promised Land", Rosh Pinna, Israel
  • 2015: Masters of Watercolor - Exhibition participants' catalogue, Saint Petersburg, 20–31 January 2015