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ABOUT
Bio I was born and raised in Bulgaria, where I received formal training in classical painting, sculpture, and printmaking at the esteemed Vocational High School. During my time there, I specialized in Printmaking and developed a keen interest in the graphic surface approach. Subsequently, I pursued ceramics at the National Academy of Arts and obtained an MA in Ceramics, focusing on 3D and surface design, influenced by contemporary European ceramics. 1999, I relocated to the United States to establish my studio practice and embark on a teaching career. With over 20 years of artmaking and teaching experience, my expertise lies in sculptural, hand-built ceramics and surface design techniques. Artist statement As an artist, I am constantly exploring and experimenting with diverse forms and techniques. The natural world around me, with its elegant curves, captivating silhouettes, and interplay of light and shadow, is a rich source of inspiration. I find inspiration in the desert, with its quiet silhouettes and curves. I love minimalistic and quiet spaces. There's nothing better than the desert on a foggy day, where each silhouette of a cactus or a figure appears one at a time and disappears again. The female body is a symbol of nature for me, and it profoundly influences my work. I explore it exclusively through my sculptural pieces. Additionally, I enjoy working with graphic lines and patterns, using large bowls and plates as three-dimensional canvases to express my love for graphic imagery, texture, pattern, and color. CV EDUCATION Masters of Arts in Ceramics National Academy of Arts, Sofia, Bulgaria 1993-1998 Printmaking Major Vocational High School for Fine Arts “Academic Petrov”, Sofia, Bulgaria 1988-1993 TEACHING EXPERIENCE Instructor, Glendale Community College, CA, Spring 2007–present Beginning and Advanced Hand-building Ceramics, Fall & Spring Semesters Instructor, Flintridge Prep High School, La Canada Flintridge, CA, Summer 2011-present Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced Ceramics Instructor, California State University, Northridge, CA, Fall 2007 Intro to Ceramics, Wheel and Hand-building Instructor, Xiem Clay Center, 2003-2012 Sculpture Introductory and Intermediate Surface Decoration Tile Design and Mold Making Beginning and Advanced Handbuilding Instructor, La Canada Community Center, CA 2008-2011 Figurative Sculpture WORKSHOPS 2025 Introduction to Precious Metal Clay Jewelry, Green&Bisque Pottery Studio, Pasadena, CA Clay as a Tool in the Studio, Green&Bisque Pottery Studio, Pasadena, CA 2024 Darted Slab Construction & Template Making, Barro Sur, Todos Santos, Mexico Yixing Teapot Construction, Green&Bisque Pottery Studio, Pasadena, CA 2023 Darted Slab Construction, CCLCF, La Canada. CA Figurative Sculpting, Studio AMOCA, Pomona, CA Surface Design Using Underglazes, Slips, and Engobes, Barro Sur, Todos Santos, Mexico Yixing Teapot Construction, Barro Sur, Todos Santos, Mexico 2022 Figurative Sculpting with Biliana Popova, Barro Sur, Todos Santos, Mexico 2021 Figurative and Sculptural Elements with Biliana Popova, Green&Bisque, Pasadena, CA 2018 Jewelry making with Precious Metal Clay, Xiem Clay Center, CA 2017 Figurative Sculpture, Xiem Clay Center, CA 2015 Hand-building the Yixing Teapot, Xiem Clay Center, Pasadena, CA 2014 Hand-building and Ceramic Surface Decoration, Ojai Pottery Studio, Ojai, CA Sculpture and Ceramic Surface Decoration–Burbank Creative Arts Center, Burbank, CA Hand-building and Surface Decoration, Santa Monica College, ACS-DC, Santa Monica, CA 2008 Hand-building and Surface Decoration-Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge, CA 2007 Sculpture and Ceramic Surface Decoration–California State University Fullerton, CA 2005 Digital Photography for the Studio Potter, American Ceramic Society–Design Chapter, LA 2004 Surface Decoration and Development of Sculpture, Burbank Creative Arts Center, CA SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2014 Solo Exhibition, Manhattan Beach Art Center, CA Burbank Creative Arts Center “Biliana Popova” Solo Exhibition, Burbank, CA 2006 Featured Artist at Del Mano Gallery , LA, CA GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2023 McGroarty Arts Center "The Human Figure in Clay 2023", Juror and Featured Artist, Tujunga, CA 2017 Long Beach Museum of Art " Art Auction XVII", invitational, Long Beach, CA Burbank Creative Arts Center "Material Matters”, curated group exhibition, Burbank, CA Xiem Clay Center "The Flintridge Prep Students with Biliana Popova", Pasadena, CA Pierce College Gallery "All Fired Up", curated show, Los Angeles, CA 2016 McGroarty Arts Center “Teapots” 13th Annual Invitational Exhibition, curated show, Tujunga, CA 2015 "The Figurative in Clay", Invitational Group Exhibition, Craft in America Center, Los Angeles, CA "Pedagogic Clay II", Invitational Group Exhibition, Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa, CA 2014 AMOCA “Kilnopening.edu 2014”, Invitational Exhibition, Pomona, CA 2013 AMOCA “Ceramic Biennial 2013”, Pomona, CA McGroarty Arts Center “All Cups 2”, Invitational Exhibition, Tujunga, CA 2012 LACMA “Art + Architecture Tour's Boutique”, Beverly Hills, CA Lynn J. Gallery "Reflections" A Journey of Ceramics and Photography, Buena Park, CA AMOCA “Kilnopening.edu” Southern California Professors & their Students, Pomona, CA 2011 AMOCA “The Art of Clay” presented by ACS-DC, juried exhibition, Pomona, CA 2010 AMOCA “Kilnopening.edu” Southern California College & University Ceramic Instructors, CA 2009 American Museum Of Ceramic Art (AMOCA) “DIVERSITY IN CLAY” juried show, Pomona Walker Gallery "Small Treasures" curated show, Palos Verdes Art Center, CA 2008 Burbank Municipal Gallery & Creative Center “ACS-DS President’s Show”, Burbank, CA McGroarty Arts Center “The 5th Annual Ceramics Exhibition”, curated show, Tujunga, CA Kellog University Art Gallery “Quintessential Clay”, Five Ceramic Artist Show, Fullerton ,CA 2007 Muckenthaler Cultural Center “Clay in CA” Invitational Exhibition, Fullerton, CA AMOCA “Extreme Clay” American Ceramic Society – Design Chapter/SCS, Pomona, CA AMOCA “Kilnopening.edu” Southern California College and University Ceramic Instructors Beatrice Wood Center “The Beatrice Wood Ceramic Annual 2007”, curated exhibition, Ojai, CA 2006 MOCA "Glass and Ceramics Art Auction", Los Angeles, CA Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts “Contemporary California Clay”, curated exhibition, Ojai, CA 2005 Xiem Clay Center "The Art of Giving" curated show, Pasadena, CA ACS-DC President’s Show 2005 at Clay Gallery, Venice, CA Lincoln Arts “Feats of Clay”, juried, Lincoln, CA Featured Artist at Del Mano Gallery, LA, CA 2004 Xiem Clay Center & Gallery “Faculty Exhibition”, Pasadena, CA Burbank Municipal Gallery & Creative Center “ Two Women Exhibition”, Burbank, CA ACS-DS President’s Show, at Burbank Municipal Gallery, Burbank, CA Del Mano Gallery “Hot Tea” invitational annual exhibition, Los Angeles, CA Kirkland Arts Center Gallery “Gigantic: Ceramic Figurines”, juried, Kirkland, WA 2003 Wayne Art Center “Craft Forms 2003", juried international exhibition, Wayne, PA Xiem Clay Center & Gallery “Faculty Exhibition”, Pasadena, CA Tierra Solida Clay Art Gallery “Clearly Black & White”, juried, Santa Barbara, CA Burbank Municipal Gallery & Creative Center “Clay & Glass”, juried, Burbank, CA Metrix Arts Space “GLOBALArtLook 2003", Juried International Exhibition, Sacramento, CA 2002 ACS-DS President’s Show, at Milard Sheets Gallery, juried, Pomona, CA 2001 ACS-DS President’s Show, Ground Zero, juried, Marina del Rey, CA AWARDS 2013 First Place, AMOCA “Ceramic Biennial 2013”, juried, Pomona, CA 2011 Best of Show, ACS in association with AMOCA, “The Art of Clay” juried, AMOCA, CA 2007 First Place, American Ceramic Society, “Extreme Clay”, AMOCA, CA 2005 Two Merit Awards, Lincoln Arts “Feats of Clay”, juried, Lincoln, CA 2004 Third Place, American Ceramic Society, President’s Show, Burbank, CA 2003 Third Place “GLOBALArtLook 2003", juried International Exhibition, Sacramento, CA 2002 Second Place & Honorable Mention, American Ceramic Society, President’s Show, Pomona, CA 2001 First Place, American Ceramic Society, President’s Show, Marina del Rey, CA 1998 Best Presentation, Exhibition “St. Spiridon”, Union of Bulgarian Artists Fund “Supporting the Art in Bulgaria” 1992 Prize “Atanas V. Patzev”, State-Public Org., Fund “13 Centuries of Bulgaria”, Bulgaria PUBLICATIONS 2014 500 Figures in Clay, Lark Books, Featured Artist on the Front Cover 2014 Easy Reader & Peninsula, Article: With Grace and Elegance - Ceramic Art by Biliana Popova in Manhattan Beach 2013 500 Teapots, Lark Books, a division of Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2011 500 Raku, Lark Books, a division of Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., photos pg. 359 2009 500 Ceramic Sculptures, Contemporary Practice, Lark Books, Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., photos pg. 76 2008 Art Buzz, the 2008 Collection, MidAmerica Publishing Company, photos pg. 84 2004 Making Marks: Discovering the Ceramic Surface, by Robin Hopper, Krause Publications Inc. photo pg. 78 OTHER EXPERIENCES Co-founder and administrator, K&P Studio, Brentwood, CA, 2000-2008 President of the American Ceramic Society - Design Chapter, Southern California Section, 2004-2005 Newsletter Editor of the American Ceramic Society - Design Chapter, Southern California Section, 2004-2005 Treasurer of the American Ceramic Society - Design Chapter, Southern California Section, 2002-2004 |