MARIANA KALACHEVA
Mariana Kalacheva is a Bulgarian painter based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Kalacheva’s paintings evoke bygone eras, fusing the decorative elegance of Art Nouveau with the fabled naivete of children’s illustrations. Women in sumptuous Renaissance dresses stroll through gardens filled with all sorts of earthly delights–fragrant lilies, majestic trees, multi-colored birds, swans, flamingos–or rest languidly in opulent interiors, with their lovers, children, or pets. The narratives are inspired by her travels and work in the gallery and yachting industries on the French Riviera, where she resided for many years, as well as her Bulgarian heritage. References to treasures spanning centuries—artifacts from the Thracians to Roman emperors–appear in her paintings as symbols of an idyllic past. Constantly experimenting, Kalacheva uses acrylic, paper collage, fabric, gels, beads, and paper mache on canvas or board. Her paintings evoke the timeless aura of an enchanted world, one where beauty, peace, and harmony prevail.
MARIANA KALACHEVA ON
I paint figurative compositions mostly inspired by Modern portraits, landscapes, Naïve art, or Magical Realism. The narratives portray elegant women in flowing evening dresses, quaint cityscapes, or still lifes drawn from nature or interior scenes. Symbols permeate the stories I tell, casting a veil of mystery over my work. Recent endeavors incorporate acrylic structure gels, pastes, papier mache, oil paints and mediums, golden leaves, and beads, drawing inspiration from personally crafted ceramic tiles. My pieces echo tranquility, historical allusions, and a timeless embrace, uniting disparate elements into a harmonious whole. For inquiries, sales@agora-gallery.com
