These handcrafted vases are part of Dimitar Nikolaev’s Motifs from Nature series. The elegant organic forms, built from stoneware and decorated with brightly coloured glazes, were inspired by a long and intense communion with nature.
Length 38 cm
Width 10 cm
Height 22 cm
© Geo Pavlov
© Geo Pavlov
© Geo Pavlov
© Geo Pavlov
Dimiter Nikolaev
- Ceramicist
- Sofia, Bulgaria
- Master Artisan
- Recommended by Rosina Pencheva
© Geo Pavlov
Playing with clay
- • Dimitar creates abstract and beautifully rough ceramic sculptures
- • His artistic process is influenced by jazz improvisation
- • He feels the best ideas come through play
“What enlightened my interest in ceramics from an early age was the ability to master the whole creative process by myself,” says Dimitar Nikolaev. Having a dialogue with the material and especially with clay has remained a priority for him throughout his career as an artist. Famous for his ceramic objects and canvases, he has presented his work in gallery shows in Bulgaria, Holland, France, Germany and Spain. Due to his curiosity and will to experiment with his craft, back in the 90s he was commissioned to work on the set design for a production of Verdi's Rigoletto at the Holland Festival. Recently, for his 70th birthday, Dimitar presented a new series of works he describes as “snapshots of current artistic ideas” at the Intro Gallery, Sofia.
Read the full interviewWorks
Photo: © Geo Pavlov
Motifs from Nature
Photo: © Geo Pavlov
Motifs from Nature
These handcrafted vases are part of Dimitar Nikolaev’s Motifs from Nature series. The elegant organic forms, built from stoneware, were inspired by a long and intense communion with nature. Bright earth coloured glazes were applied to the ceramic vessels with a brush and also sprayed on. The final piece was fired at 1,060C°
Length 36 cm
Width 8 cm
Height 22 cm
Photo: © Geo Pavlov
”...the course of the game born in the rhythm of nature”
This earth toned sculpture was handcrafted from stoneware clay and decorated with engobes. It was inspired by an imaginary interplay between nature and material. The spacing between the sculpture's four areas helped Dimitar Nikolaev create a particular aesthetic and discover the form as he built it.
Length 34 cm
Width 12 cm
Height 20 cm
Photo: © Geo Pavlov
Sea World
It was important for Dimitar Nikolaev to feel an open dialogue with his material throughout the creation of this sculptural stoneware piece. Hand built, the piece contrasts smooth organic forms with a geometric section, and is decorated with ochre engobes.
Length 35 cm
Width 26 cm
Height 13 cm
Photo: © Geo Pavlov
Sculpture
This geometric stoneware sculpture has been decorated with earth brown engobes. The contrasting tones are reminiscent of oxidised metal. Dimitar Nikolaev is in constant communion with nature throughout his creative process, integrating dynamic symmetries, rhythms and colours in his pieces.
Length 9 cm
Width 21.5 cm
Height 19 cm
You may also like
Organised by
Under the high patronage of
In partnership with
