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The winner of the 59th International Meeting of Naïve Art is Georgi Georgiev from Bulgaria

On Saturday, 13 June 2026, the 59th International Meeting of Naïve Artists came to a close. At Stik Hall, Goliev trg 1, we announced the winner and the recipients of the awards.

The Grand Prix was awarded to:

Georgi Georgiev (Bulgaria) is an independent architect with many years of professional experience, including twenty years in ecological construction using natural materials. He has participated in numerous significant projects and is the author of many professional publications on ecological architecture. He works in the encaustic technique on wood—an ancient method of painting with wax. He prepares his own colours from natural pigments, while the wax comes from his own beehives. His artworks are created exclusively from natural materials and radiate harmony and sustainability.

Artwork: Feelings and Memories Are Life’s Most Precious Gift, encaustic painting, 2026.

The artist said about his work:

Feelings and memories are life’s most precious gift. In this work, I have depicted some of my memories of Trebnje. Just as children keep their savings in a piggy bank, I store my memories and feelings in one as well. One day, when I leave this world, I will break my piggy bank and take all my treasures with me.

Thank you, Trebnje, thank you to the organisers, and to all my new friends for the wonderful feelings and unforgettable memories.

The professional jury explained its decision as follows:

The Grand Prix is awarded to Georgi Georgiev who masterfully combines the unique ancient technique of encaustic painting with the expressive possibilities of modernist collage. His work is distinguished by the use of natural pigments, which he personally seeks out and gathers from nature, creating an authentic and profound connection with the material.

Through his artworks, he narrates the story of events at the 59th international meeting, interweaving it with rich imagery and an original visual language. Particular value is added to his creative practice by the expressive and distinctive stylistic treatment of figures, which captivates the viewer and invites them into the artist’s narrative world.

For his originality, exceptional command of technique, and compelling artistic vision, we are pleased to award him the Grand Prix.

Awards for Artistic Achievement were presented to:

Katarina Šaptović (Serbia) is a self-taught artist. She uses hand embroidery as her primary artistic medium. She works under her own brand KezVez, through which she explores the contemporary use of hand embroidery on textiles and other surfaces. Her style is rooted in the aesthetics of art brut, combining traditional and urban elements. She expresses herself through floral and animal motifs, almost always adding an element that intentionally stands out from the whole — a playful, humorous detail that creates surprise. She has presented her work at numerous exhibitions.

This recognition is awarded to Katarina Šaptovič who, through hand embroidery and vibrant colors, creatively explores plant and animal motifs, transforming them into distinctive, imaginative images filled with originality, the unusual, the grotesque, and humor.

Taras Romaniuk – Taras Keb (Ukraine) works in painting, graphics, and decorative and applied arts. He is particularly drawn to primitivism, art brut, and naïve art. In his works, he explores myths, the inner world of the self-taught artist, the creative process, and the relationship between the artist and society. He is also dedicated to researching Ukrainian and international primitive and naïve art.

This recognition is awarded to Taras Keb whose work tells a quiet yet powerful story about the interconnectedness of symbols of religious art, nature, and local tradition. In his works, traces of sacred heritage intertwine with the rhythms of the natural world and a deep respect for the heritage that shapes us.

Yun Amantur (Kyrgyzstan) is this year’s youngest participant. He has been painting since childhood and has always been drawn to large formats and meticulous work. He has no formal academic training; his visual language developed intuitively through experience and observation. After graduating from art school and moving to Saint Petersburg, he experienced feelings of isolation and loneliness in the big city. These experiences became a source of strength and inspiration. His art emerges from emotion and intuition.

This recognition is awarded to Iun Amantur who has transformed a large canvas into an extraordinary visual narrative. Through the interweaving of numerous human figures, he has created the form of a tree canopy, symbolically reflecting family dynamics, interpersonal bonds, and the relationships that shape the individual in contemporary society.