Art Museum “Georgi Velchev”

The residence of the renowned Varna artist Georgi Velchev has been transformed into an art museum. Visitors are greeted with a charming, little structure adorned with a neoclassical frontage. The museum comprises five display spaces, encompassing a combined size of 100 square metres, and houses a collection of 239 artworks. Since 2008, it has functioned as a subsidiary of the City Art Gallery “Boris Georgiev” in Varna.

Georgi Atanasov Velchev was born in the year 1891 in the city of Varna. In 1910, he enrolled in the State Art-Industrial School in Sofia. He halted his studies on two occasions as a result of the eruption of conflicts (Balkan Wars and World War I). From 1915 until 1918, he served as a military artist at the Headquarters of the First Army during the First World War. However, he was subsequently arrested and sent to France. In 1920, following the war, he successfully finished his studies.

He also resided in France, Germany, and Italy.

He resided in New York from 1924 until 1931. Initially, he sustained himself by working as a horticulturist and labourer at a manufacturing facility, however he persistently pursued his passion for painting. He organised a total of eight shows, all of which garnered positive reviews. Achieving profitable sales. Explored Miami, San Francisco, and Philadelphia, while also venturing to Canada and the Hawaiian Islands. Due to the economic crisis in the USA, he was compelled to return to Bulgaria, where he resided for the remainder of his life. During his journey to Europe, he made stops in Australia and China.

Georgi Velchev was a fervent traveller who recognises the immense significance of information and unrestricted communication in a diverse cultural setting.