- Varya McMillan is an American artist from Bulgarian-Greek origin. She received her MFA degree from the Art Academy in Sofia, where she majored in Stage & Costume design.
- Movement & energy are essential components in most of her paintings. Her subject matter are cityscapes & figures in motion.
My style is a blend of impressionism & expressionism. I do not try to tell a story or force a meaning - it has to emerge, unfold & be discovered. Painting for me is a continual process of searching and evaluating, and the truths I find today may not be my truths tomorrow & that is part of the Journey. I feel I am most successful in my creative process when image, color & thoughts become inseparable & fused together."
McMillan has exhibited her Artwork in solo & group shows in Paris, Vienna, Budapest , Luxembourg, Sofia, San-Francisco, Sacramento, Sonoma, Los Altos among others.
Her art work was represented by Cohen-Abee Art Gallery in San Francisco, until 2016.
Some of her Paintings are included in public collections in Europe - the “International Endowment Peace & Art”, “Wittgenstein Art center” in Vienna, Austria, National Art Gallery & Art Museum in Sofia among others. Her Paintings are also part of many private collections in Europe & USA.
EDUCATION
McMillan received her Master of Fine Arts degree from the Art Academy of Sofia, Bulgaria, where she majored in Stage and Costume Design.
After being awarded a scholarship to the International City of Arts, she spent two years in Paris, France. This two year period was seminal in Varya's artistic development.
In Paris she encountered and collaborated with artists and musicians from all over the world, expanding her artistic horizon even further. She also encountered the original works of Matisse, Picasso, Cézanne, Klee, Hundertwasser and Rodin. The abstract and impressionistic approach of these artists resonated strongly with her. During this period her own artwork was included in a major group show of contemporary Bulgarian artists at the Grand Palaise in Paris, France.
STYLE
Varya works in oil & acrylic using primarily pallet knife.
Her style is a blend of expressionism & impressionism. Favorite subject matter includes cityscapes & figures in motion.
Varya’s palette consists of bold & rich colors used in layers which has become her trademark over the years. Movement, energy & rhythm are essential components in most of her paintings.
All her paintings are done on gallery wrapped canvas, designed to be hung without frame.(They may, of course be framed in contemporary floater or any other frame to meet the needs of the collector)
EXHIBITIONS
Between 1980-2000, Varya McMillan’s paintings have been exhibited in galleries in Europe - Sofia, Vienna, Luxembourg, Paris among others.
After 2000 in USA - Sacramento, Las Vegas , Los Altos, San-Francisco among others.
2000-2016 her artwork has been represented by Cohen- Abee Gallery in San-Francisco
SELECTED PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Wittgenstein Art Center, Vienna, Austria
National Art Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria
Municipal Art Museum, Sofia, B-a
Museum of Modern Art, Dobrich, B-a
Theater “Sofia”, Sofia, B-a
Board of “ Education and Culture “, Sofia, B-a
International Endowment “Peace and Art”, Sofia, B-a
Public Library, Sofia, B-a
PRIVATE COLLECTIONS - McMillan's artwork is part of many private collections in Europe and in USA.
The artist resides in Northern California.
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