Georgi Yanakiev
Geori Stoyanov Yanakiev (Georgi Yanakiev) was a Bulgarian painter, graphic artist, and teacher. He was a leading figure in Bulgarian graphic art, illustration, and painting, and one of Bulgaria’s most respected masters of soft pastel.
He was born on May 6, 1941, in Veselie, Burgas Province, and grew up in the Burgas region, where nature and landscapes shaped his work. From 1964 to 1970 he studied at the National Academy of Arts in Sofia, learning from Evtim Tomov, Zafir Yonchev, and Petar Chuklev. He graduated with honors in 1970 and received an honorary prize from Todor Zhivkov.
In 1971 he became the chief artist of Sliven Municipality, a role he held for the rest of his life. Yanakiev taught drawing and painting at the National Art School "Dimitar Dobrovich" in Sliven and mentored many students, including Damyan Damyanov.
His art features landscapes from the Burgas and Sliven regions, still lifes with flowers, and seascapes from Sozopol, often created in soft pastel. He believed in lifelong learning and that drawing sparks painting, with color mixing inspiring him.
In 2016 the Mayor of Sliven awarded him an Honorary Badge for his cultural contributions. He suffered a severe stroke in 2014 but continued creating, and his last solo exhibition was in November 2017 at Gallery "May" in Sliven. He died on March 1, 2018, from cancer at age 76. More than 250 paintings are kept in his family collection, and his work remains in galleries and collections in Bulgaria and abroad.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 06:38 (CET).