Nikola Nikolov

Spreading intangible, embodied, and personal forms of knowledge is closely connected to my desire to preserve cherished memories and materials. At the heart of my artistic practice lies a commitment to sustainability —not only in the environmental sense, but in the emotional preservation of meaning through upcycling and material transformation.

A central element in my work is the contrast between the rational functionality of materials and the emotional resonance of objects. I work with materials that often carry histories—discarded or overlooked objects, worn-out components, or belongings with sentimental value—and give them new life and function by transforming them into iconic sculptures or design pieces.

By re-creating a client’s belongings and weaving their identity into the new form, I shift and expand the object’s original context. Through this process, the piece becomes more than a physical structure; it becomes a vessel of memory and meaning, a sustainable artifact that honors both the past and the potential of the future.

Each artwork I create holds multiple layers of significance that go beyond its material or tactile qualities. These layers include an object’s personal history, the memories attached to it, and the sy...

Nikola Nikolov began his art education at the National school of applied arts in Sofia, Bulgaria, specializing in working with metal, as well as classical drawing and modeling. This led to being a protégé of the fashion designer Paco Rabanne in 1995. Nikola continued his art education at ABK Maastricht in 1996. After graduating from the Sandberg Institute of Amsterdam in 2002, Nikola transformed his method of working with discarded materials into the concept of Studio-Re-Creation in 2009.

-The Netherlands Amsterdam, Art Hotel Amsterdam, ‘The Glass Rider’
-Isle of Man, Douglas, Sayle Gallery, ‘The Glass Rider’
-Israel, Holon, POST FOSSIL excavating 21st century -creation, ‘The White (Jack) Rabbit
-The Netherlands, Kunstfort Asperen, EduArt
-The Netherlands, Kunstfort Asperen, Tuttobene -Japan, Tokio, POST FOSSIL excavating 21st century creation 21_21 Design Sight, ‘The White (Jack) Rabbit, curated by Lidewei Edelkoort for Issey Miyake
-The Netherlands, Utrecht, De Toonkamer, Thema Ambacht, onderdeel van Elle Wonen event Februari-April
-The Netherlands, Amsterdam, De Chielerie, curated by Lftfld -Italy, Milaan, Spazio Rossana Orlandi, ‘The Dog’
-The Netherlands, Maastricht, Conflict, Minckelersstraat 14: ‘The Lamp 2’, 3, 4 and 5
-The Netherlands, Eindhoven, Kunstenaars Initiatief, -Dutch Design Week, ‘Alice’ -The Netherlands, Utrecht, De Toonkamer, Tuttobene, ‘The Lamp’ -Italy, Milaan, Nhow Hotel, ‘The Chair’ and ‘The Glass’
-The Netherlands, Amsterdam, Platform 21, Repair Manifesto, ‘The Little Glass’
-The Netherlands, Lei...