Martina Vacheva
05.09.2025 – 25.10.2025
Jacky Strenz
We are pleased to announce the first solo exhibition of Plovdiv-based artist Martina Vacheva (b. 1988) Martina Vacheva's works are inspired by both local traditions and global visual culture. She combines elements of folklore, pop culture, cartoons and tabloid aesthetics to create lively, often humorous, yet critical compositions. Her main focus is on exploring topics such as identity, collective memory and the absurdities of contemporary society. Vacheva's paintings often depict exaggerated, grotesque figures that reference both historical and contemporary characters. She plays with kitsch aesthetics, using bright colors and distorted forms to reflect on how images shape our perception of culture and history. Her work explores issues of gender, representation and the fusion of tradition with contemporary imagery.
* Martina Vacheva (b. 1988) lives and works in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. She graduated from National Academy of Arts in Sofia. Scholarships: Akademie Schloss Solitude, Stuttgart (2022); MGLC Ljubljana Residency, Ljubljana; Residency Unlimited, NYC (2018) Awards: BUNA (forum of contemporary art Varna), Sofia (2024); Research Residency Award of the 33rd Ljubljana Biennial of Graphic Arts (2019); BAZA Award for Contemporary Art (2017) Solo shows include (selection): Octopus art space, Sofia; Archeological Museum, Varna; Octopus art space, Sofia; (2024); Sariev gallery, Plovdiv (2021); Museum Folkwang, Essen (2019) Group shows include (selection): Soldout Design & Untiled Gallery, Sofia (2025); Sofia City Art Gallery; Art Collection Telekom and Prague City Gallery, Stone Bell House, Prague (2024); Art Collection Telekom, Moderna Galerija, Ljubljana (2023); Art Collection Telekom, Wilhelm Hallen, Berlin (2022); New Tretyakov Gallery Moscow (2021); Crack up – Crack down, Ujazdowski Castle, Warsaw (2020); 33rd Ljubljana Biennial of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana (2019) Collections: Metropolitan Museum of Arts library collection, NYC; Art Collection Telekom; Gaudenz B. Ruf Collection, Zurich, Vienna; EVN Collection, Enzersdorf; Museum Folkwang, Essen.
For more information please contact the gallery.
Photo: Mia Novakova
Jacky Strenz
Kurt-Schumacher-Str. 2
60311 Frankfurt am Main
T +49 151 11 64 97 37