Silvia Vassileva

I was born and raised in Bulgaria where I took my first art class at the age of twelve. After obtaining my MFA I lived in Japan for six years. Currently I reside in sunny California. My experience in three different continents, my exposure to such a variety of art, and my travels are reflected in my art.
I am fascinated by color and relationships among colors. I find inspiration everywhere around me - the things I see, the way I feel; a painting can be triggered by a poem or a tune...I believe that creating art is a necessity for my soul, feelings, and sensitivity. When I paint I enjoy the feeling of absolute freedom and abandon, which does not exist in the reality outside of the canvas. My goal is to take the viewer through the whole process - from the reality through it’s transformation in my mind, through the expression of my own feelings, to the new reality on the canvas. My style is free and bold. I love contrast, sudden changes of color, unusual color palettes: everything that makes a painting come ALIVE. Cityscapes, abstracts and landscapes are among my favorite subject matter. I work mostly in acrylics and oil.

National Academy of Fine Arts, Sofia, Bulgaria - MFA, 1982-1988

Art School, Plovdiv, Bulgaria - 1976-1980

I had several solo shows and I have been participating in numerous exhibitions in the US and abroad. To name a few -SUTEX- NY; Décor Show - Atlanta and Las Vegas; Maison Object - Paris; Art-A-Fair -Laguna Beach, CA; Affair in the Garden - Beverly Hills, CA; San Diego Museum of Art etc. For a detailed list of exhibitions including solo shows contact me through my web site. In Nov. of 2020 I was among the five winners of Contemporary Art Gallery Online portrait contest.
I am featured in a chapter of the 2025 book The Business of Art: How to Become a Successful Artist in Today’s Market, by Lauren Strock. It is among the 25 bestselling books on Amazon.
2026 - My still life Tuscan Evening Wine received an honorable mention at the large Del Mar Fairground art exhibition.