site.btaNational Academy of Art Rector: Art Must Preserve Individuality

National Academy of Art (NAA) Rector Prof. Georgi Yankov believes that art must be honest and preserve the individuality of its creators. He was speaking for BTA's LIK shortly after the end of 2026 diploma exhibitions marking the Academy's 130th anniversary.

According to Yankov, the Academy's mission is not to produce visual cliches but to develop individual authors. "Students must think, be authors and preserve their individuality," he said, adding that technologies and artificial intelligence can assist artistic work but cannot replace original ideas.

Yankov stressed that young artists should first learn to draw, describing drawing not only as a technical skill but also as a way of thinking.

He also noted that today's students perceive the world differently because they have grown up in a digital environment, and the Academy seeks to reconnect them with direct contact with art through museums, galleries and festivals.

The NAA is marking its 130th anniversary with a broad programme that includes diploma exhibitions at 27 venues across Bulgaria, giving graduating students the opportunity to present their work to a wider audience, Yankov said.

Despite his administrative responsibilities, he said he continues to see himself mainly as an artist, describing painting and creating as his greatest source of fulfilment.

Prof. Georgi Yankov is an artist, poster designer and lecturer with more than three decades of creative and academic experience. He has been a professor at the Department of Poster and Visual Communication since 2010 and has headed NAA since 2020.

Yankov is recognized as one of Bulgaria's leading poster artists and graphic designers. His work has been featured in dozens of international exhibitions and events, including the Venice Biennale, the Palace of Nations in Geneva, and venues in London, Rome, Berlin and New York. He has received numerous awards for graphic design and has held a series of solo exhibitions.