Pencho Balkanski (1908–1985)

1908

Born in the village of Lomets, Troyan region (January 26)

1923

Arrive in Sofia. Mastered the skill of photography at the studio of his brother, cameraman Minko Balkanski, and Boris Blaskov. Took lessons in drawing and painting from Boris Blaskov and Peter Stoyanov, graduates of the Petersburg Art Academy.Attended courses of study in painting and sculpture at the state Academy of Art.

1929

Passed an exam at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and received a Master`s certificate No. 1269/July 16, for master in the craft of photography. Member of the photographic association of Sofia.

1931

Started independent work in photography –Luna Photo Studio, No. 57 Solun Str.

1933 Sofia

First Art Exhibition, Rodno Izkustvo Gallery, No 11 Levski Str.

1934 Varna

Luna Photo Studio was lastingly established at No. 11 Levsky Str. Varna. Second Art Photo Exhibition at the Marine School . Took part in the making of the Bulgarian folk lifestyle films Sedyanka and The Rila Monastery, produced by the Pathe Natan French film making house.

1935 Plovdiv

Plovdiv. Third Art Photography Exhibition, hall of the Napred cooperative. Took part in the making of the Yugoslav folk style film Children of Spring. Belgrade.Fourth Art Photo Exhibition in Ratnicki Dom.

1936

Journey along the Danube from Vidin to Vienna on board the Austrian Schonbrun liner. During the journey staged an exhibition of his photos in the restaurant. Vienna .Fifth Art Photography Exhibition, Gluckzelich Hall. Work at the Agfa Film Studio. Takes photo of Viennese sights. His photos are all bought. Miss Roza Rudolf from Vienna becomes his wife.

1937

Takes part in the shooting of Strahil Voivode, a Bulgarian feature film.

1938

Independent presentation of art photography within the sensational All Bulgarian Exhibition of Arts and Crafts, shown in the hall of the newly built State Art Gallery,St Alexander Nevski Square (destroyed during the air raids in 1944). Awarded a silver medal and a diploma.

1939 Sofia

Sixth Art Photography Exhibition, No 10 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd. Participation in an International Exhibition of Photography,Munich. The award received has been lost. According to the memories of his son Alexander, it had probably been a bronze plate.

1940

Travelled to Dobrich, where he photographed the annexation of Dobruja to the territory of the Third Bulgarian Kingdom. Produced some of the loveliest landscapes on the banks of the Danube and the Black Sea Coast.

1941

Participated, with a groupe of Bulgarian photographers, in the 9th Exhibition of Art Photography in Zagreb.

1947

Took part in the 20th General Art Exhibition, Graphic section, No125 G.Rakovski str.

1948

Joint exhibition (painting and graphic works) with Vera Jansen and Elena Panova, in The gallery at No. 14 Ruski Blvd., Sofia.

1950

Worked in the sphere of lithography, monotype, painting

1958

Sofia, Jubille Art Exhibtion in the gallery of the Union of Bulgarian Arttists,No.125 G.Rakovski Str. Sharply criticized for formalism.

1963

Vienna, art exhibition (painting).

1967

Trojan, art exhibition (lithography,painting).

1968

Karlovo and Sofia. Art exhibitions (lithography,painting).

1974

Paris, art exhibition (lithography,painting). Rusalka resort, exhibition paintings.

1978

Sofia Jubilee Art Exhibition in the gallery of the Bulgarian Artists.

1980

Radically new quests in painting along the lines of generalization, harmonization, rhythm (figures,colours,spaces).

1985

Died in Sofia at the age of 77 (December 1)

Posthumous Exhibitions:

1996

Sofia City Art Gallery (paintings from the 1930s and 1940s).

2007

Budapest (lithography).
Sofia (lithography).

2008

Troyan (paintings, lithography).
Sofia, Argos Gallery (paintings, drawings, photo graphics.)

2010

Sofia National Art Gallery (photography)