Chasing Words. 19 Bulgarian Illustrators of Children’s Books
Chasing Words. 19 Bulgarian Illustrators of Children’s Books
From Bologna to Sofia: The Exhibition “Chasing Words. 19 Bulgarian Illustrators of Children’s Books” Visits Credo Bonum Gallery
The exhibition is accompanied by a variety of events:
- Behind the Scenes of “Chasing Words”
- “Publish and Sell” – Masterclass with Literary Agent and Author Benas Bērantas
- Discussion Meeting with Illustrator Hana Krizanova
Following its resounding success in Bologna in April 2025, the exhibition “Chasing Words. 19 Bulgarian Illustrators of Children’s Books” arrives in Sofia. Its official opening will take place on June 2 at 7:00 PM at Credo Bonum Gallery, located at 2 Slavyanska Street, and will run until June 14.
Curated specifically for the 62nd Bologna Children’s Book Fair as part of Bulgaria’s national presentation at the “Bulgarian Books for Kids” stand, the exhibition showcases the work of 19 Bulgarian artists:
Damyan Damyanov, Elena Zhablyanova, Iva Sasheva, Ina Hristova, Kapka Kaneva, Katrin Eftimova, Kremena Yagodina, Kiril Zlatkov, Kristina Tuzharova, Lyuba Haleva, Maria Gyulemetova, Maria Nalbantova, Mila Yaneva-Tabakova, Nevena Angelova, Rositsa Raleva, Siyana Zakharieva, Sotir Gelev, Yasen Grigorov, and Yasen Gyuzelev.
The curators of the project are the creative duo Anton Staykov and Svoboda Tsekova. Their approach is driven by the desire to present a current, albeit subjective, snapshot of contemporary Bulgarian illustration and the diversity of artistic styles to a global audience. Each participant is represented by a selected illustration from a specific book, along with preparatory sketches. The face of the exhibition is an illustration by Lyuba Haleva—featuring Svetlio and his dog friend, characters from the book “To Put It Mildly” by Valeri Petrov. Within the exhibition, in the form of a large book of illustrations, is also presented the first Bulgarian exhibition to participate in the Bologna Fair: “Joy, Sorrow, and Hope”, which in 2024 showcased 25 other contemporary Bulgarian illustrators under the auspices of the Association.
The Sofia presentation of “Chasing Words. 19 Bulgarian Illustrators of Children’s Books” is organized by the Culture and Literacy Association, in partnership with Credo Bonum Gallery as the host. The exhibition is accompanied by a rich program of events:
- On June 2 at 6:00 PM at the gallery (just before the official opening), a special event titled “Behind the Scenes of ‘Chasing Words’” will take place. It will focus on the preparation and presentation of the exhibition at the 62nd Bologna Children’s Book Fair. Curators Anton Staykov and Svoboda Tsekova will share intriguing details about the process, present the opportunities that this international forum offers to authors, illustrators, publishers, and literary agents, and provide an overview of global trends in children’s book illustration.
- On June 4, from 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM, again at Credo Bonum, the masterclass “Publish and Sell” will be held, led by Benas Bērantas—a literary agent and children’s book author. The event will bring together professionals from the Bulgarian children’s book publishing sector, with Elena Georgieva, project manager of the Culture and Literacy Association, as moderator. As the only independent agent of children’s literature in Lithuania, and with extensive experience in the international publishing business, Benas Bērantas will share his expertise and know-how. As an author of children’s books translated into 15 languages, he will also reveal his personal recipe for success, present some of his latest titles, and discuss opportunities for commercial cooperation between Lithuania and Bulgaria, having already worked with the Bulgarian market.
- On June 8 (Sunday), from 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM, a discussion meeting will be held at the gallery with Slovak illustrator Hana Krizanova, joined by artist Kiril Zlatkov and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kapka Kaneva (artist and lecturer at the National Academy of Arts). The event is dedicated to one of the most prestigious illustration events in Europe and the world—the Biennial of Illustration Bratislava, which this year celebrates its 60th edition. The program includes a presentation of the most important details regarding the organization and participation opportunities in the Biennial, as well as an in-depth look at Hana Krizanova’s professional portfolio and creative achievements.
The exhibition and accompanying events are part of the program of the first international forum dedicated to children’s books—Books for Kids Professional. The organizer is the Culture and Literacy Association, with financial support from the Ministry of Culture and Sofia Municipality, and media support from BNT and BNR.
Admission to all events is free. Meetings with international guests will be held in English.
