Georgi Yanakiev

• Name — Georgi Yanakiev • Native Name — Георги Янакиев • Birth Name — Georgi Stoyanov Yanakiev • Born — 6 May 1941 • Birthplace — Veselie, Burgas Province, Kingdom of Bulgaria • Died — 1 March 2018 • Place of death — Sliven, Bulgaria • Field — Painting, graphic art, soft pastel, illustration • Training — National Academy of Arts (1964–1970) • Works — "The Dance of the Vines" "The Blue Stones" "Sedlarevo Flowers" • Patrons — Evtim Tomov Zafir Yonchev Petar Chuklev • Awards — Honorary Award from Todor Zhivkov (1970) Honorary Badge from the Municipality of Sliven (2016) • Website — georgijanakiev

Yanakiev was born on 6 May 1941 in the village of Veselie, Burgas Province. His childhood and youth were spent in the Burgas region, where his deep attachment to nature and landscape as a central theme in his work was formed. In 1964, he was admitted to the National Academy of Art in Sofia (then the Higher Institute of Fine Arts "Nikolay Pavlovich") with a specialization in graphic art. His teachers included renowned Bulgarian artists Evtim Tomov, Zafir Yonchev, and Petar Chuklev. In 1970, he graduated with honors and was awarded an honorary prize by Todor Zhivkov, Chairman of the State Council —an exceptionally rare distinction for a graduating student that testified to his extraordinary abilities.

In 1971, he was assigned to work in Sliven as the chief artist of the municipality, where he remained until the end of his life. He became a member of the Union of Bulgarian Artists – Sliven branch. For many years, he was a teacher of drawing and painting at the National Art School "Dimitar Dobrovich" in Sliven, where he taught alongside his colleague Yordan Parushev. Among his students was the graphic artist and illustrator Damyan Damyanov (born 1982), who graduated from the Sliven gymnasium and later became a recipient of numerous national awards in graphic design and illustration.

In 2014, he suffered a severe ischemic stroke but continued his creative work. In October 2016, he was awarded an Honorary Badge by the Mayor of Sliven Municipality for his long-standing contribution to the cultural life of the city. Despite health problems, he continued to participate in exhibitions. In November 2017, he organized his final solo exhibition during his lifetime at Gallery "May" in Sliven, just four months before his death. He died on 1 March 2018 from cancer at the age of 76.

About his inspiration, the artist shared: "Inspiration comes with drawing. For me, this is the moment when I feel that the painting is beginning to come alive." The main themes in his work include: • Landscapes of native nature – The Blue Stones, Kutelka Peak, Sedlarevo • Still lifes with rich color palettes • Seascapes from the Black Sea coast • Urban motifs from Sliven

"An artist must know what he is doing and how he is doing it!" was one of the maxims Yanakiev shared in an interview. About the learning process, he added: "I am for artists who learn all their lives, and I am one of them. I draw because it gives me pleasure."

• Illustration — "The Blue Stones", soft pastel, 1999 • Illustration — "Sedlarevo Flowers No. 1", soft pastel, 2000

• 2017 (November) – Final solo exhibition during his lifetime, Gallery "May", Sliven • 2013 – Solo exhibition, Gallery "May", Sliven • 2012 – "Soft Pastel" exhibition, Gallery "Bogoridi", Burgas • 2011 – Solo exhibition, Gallery "May", Sliven

• 2016 (November) – Joint exhibition of the Union of Bulgarian Artists - Sliven Branch, Gallery "May" • Numerous municipal, district, and collective exhibitions (1971–2016)

Among Georgi Yanakiev's known works are: • "The Dance of the Vines" • "The Blue Stones" (1999) • "Sedlarevo Flowers" No. 1 (2000) • "Sedlarevo Flowers" No. 2 • "Horizon over Sozopol" • "Evening Mood" • "Colorful Night" (2017, his final painting) • "Autumn Landscape" • "Morning Sea" • "Spring Motif" • "Still Life with Roses" • "The Old Town" • "Winter Landscape"

Georgi Yanakiev was a longtime teacher of drawing and painting at the National Art School "Dimitar Dobrovich" in Sliven, where he taught alongside his colleague Yordan Parushev. Through his teaching, he influenced generations of young artists, passing on not only technique but also his philosophy of art as a way of life. Among his students was the graphic artist and illustrator Damyan Damyanov (born 1982), who graduated from the Sliven gymnasium and later became a recipient of numerous national awards in graphic design and illustration.

As the chief artist of Sliven Municipality from 1971, Georgi Yanakiev left a lasting mark on the visual appearance of the city. An active member of the Union of Bulgarian Artists - Sliven branch, he participated in numerous cultural initiatives and projects. His long-standing participation in collective and regional exhibitions established him as an important figure in the cultural life of the region.