Anna Marinova

I am a self-taught artist, but I have developed my skills under the guidance of my husband, a professional painter and teacher. My work has always been inspired by ancient history and the natural world, which have become central themes in my art. I was born in Bulgaria, and now I live in Greece, close to the sea and near many inspiring ancient sites that carry the echoes of past eras.

My work explores primitive and archetypal imagery through processes of layering, excavation, and erosion. Figures, forms, and patterns emerge as traces rather than illustrations, drawing inspiration from prehistoric cave art, ancient frescoes, mosaics, and early ritual marks. I am interested in the dialogue between past and present, and the way memory, time, and materiality leave visible traces in the surfaces of things.

Within this body of work, distinct series explore different archaeological layers of imagery:

Excavated Figures – human figures revealed through sgraffito and layered paint, reflecting archetypal gestures and presence.

Mosaic Remains – inspired by ancient Greek floor mosaics, these works reinterpret animal figures such as birds, fish, and octopuses. The surfaces carry marks reminiscent of tesserae, erosion, and the passage of cent...

Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", Journalism
The St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo, Psychology
Ceramics Course at New Bulgarian University, Sofia
Qualification in Art Therapy

2020 – Participated in the Second Illustration Biennale with the illustration “Invitation for Coffee”.

2021 – Nominated for the NAÏVE Biennale 2021 with the painting “Two Sisters”.

2022 – Awarded “Young Author” at the national exhibition “The Land of Botev” for the painting “Yamas”.

2023 – Participated in a National Exhibition “The Land of Botev”

2025 – Participated in the Third International Intuitive Biennale, Bulgaria, with the painting “A Day in the Village”.

2025 – Participated in the International Biennale of Small Forms in Pleven, Bulgaria, with the painting “Sunny People”.

2025 – Joint exhibition with Rosen Naydenov, “Spirit of Water”, Vratsa, Bulgaria.