Dobri Dobrev is an established painter, musician and martial arts practitioner. He is a classically trained painter who has experimented with various media – oil, aquarelle, fire, candle light and fireworks.
Born in 1962, Dobri started drawing at an early age. At 13 he took the advice of his cousin and applied to the National Art Collage. He was accepted to the school and which would give him the fundamentals in classical drawing and painting. During his time at the Art Collage he formed a rock band with some of his classmates. After graduation he was drafted into the Bulgarian Armed Forces and and served in a paratrooper battalion.
Between 1983 and 1989 Dobri worked as a harbormaster in the port of Burgas and had the opportunity to pursue his artistic goals and experiment with various painting techniques. His first exhibition “Open Place” was held in 1989 and received critical acclaim, but was closed by police due to political reasons. Later he starts he starts his series of fire performances called “Shape of Lizards”.
A year later he signs a contract for representation with French Line Ltd. and goes to Western Europe where he makes a series of exhibitions.
At this time he experimented with applying different materials and paints to canvas by burning them. He used everything from cacao, pepper, flower, to cement and soil.
In 1992 he moves to London where he works as a freelance artist. There he finally perfects his fire art.
He creates his first fire art installation, a portrait with candles in memory of Princess of Wales, Lady Diana.
At that time he has several exhibitions in London, including a performance in the Bulgarian Embassy in London. Dobri has always liked the fact that this period of his life inspired on of the characters of Alek Popov in his book “Mission London”, later portrayed on film by Kostadin Georgiev – Kalki.
Dobri has always been interested in eastern culture and martial arts. He has taught several calligraphy classes and has lead a kids martial arts school for over 10 years.
His art incorporates various aspects of culture, religion, ethnicity and symbolism, blended together with fire and artistic styles from all over the world.
Over the years Dobri has made over 20 monumental fire drawings and has performed his martial arts fire show in front of thousands of people.
Today he continues to work on oil and aquarelle paintings, as well as creating plans for future large scale fire drawings.
This website showcases his work through the years, from his early career to his latest works.
Some of Dobri’s exhibitions are held at:
Galerie Saint-Ravy of Montpellier, France.
Palais des Congress at Cap d’Agde, France
Gallery of Marie-Pierre Vaur, Paris, France
Took part in two exhibitions in Paris
“Biennale de CourbevoieL Jeune Peinture” and “L’exposition: Le Sang”
Annual exhibition of the United Society of Artists, Westminster Gallery, London
“Total Eclipse” at Sparts Gallery, rue Mazarin, Paris, France
Exhibition in the private apartment of Mr. Joel Seydoux, in Paris
Exhibition at the private apartment of Pierre Cardin, No.11 Quai d’Orsay.
Exhibition “Water Reflection of Falling Meteorite” at the National Culture Palace, Sofia, Bulgaria.