Preslav Kostov (B.1998, Bulgaria) is a painter and draughtsman who currently lives and works in London. Before the Royal College of Art, Preslav attended Leeds College of Art and The Royal Drawing School. He is the recipient of The Elizabeth Greenshields Award and an elected member of The Contemporary British Portrait Painters Society.
Preslav's works are held in private collections across Europe and the States, as well as Soho House London.
"Painting for me brings more questions than answers. Muttering into the surfaces a glimpse of introspection, a truncation catalysing beyond its intention.
My practice rejects depiction. There is so much to omit and so many to estrange once specifics corrode relatability. Moments of resolution scattered selectively. The accuracy of an oxymoron. The results, a foray into that which I fret to speak of. It begs for empathy and dismisses sympathy.
Figures that owe no explanation shy away into a flux. I pinch some into action, some lay half convinced into cooperating. I could tell you what they are whispering about, but what would be the fun in that."
Preslav employs methods of automatism and pareidolia to exhume autobiographic narratives through scenes that never happened.
EXHIBITIONS
Contemporary British Portrait Painters - The Department Store, Brixton (2022)
Annual Exhibition - Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Mall Galleries (2022)
”Proserpina” duo show with Henry Baker - Apiary Studios (2022)
RAW - Soho Revue (2022)
More Heed - Auction Collective x The Magic Garden Battersea (2021)
Figurative Art Now - Federation of British Artist x Mall Galleries (2021)
Ruth Borchard Self Portrait Award - Virtual Exhibition (Longlisted) (2021)
Small Pleasures - All Mouth Gallery x The Auction Collective (2021)
Annual Exhibition - Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Mall Galleries (2021)
Jackson's Painting Prize (Shortlisted) (2021)
Quotidian - Blanco Gallery, virtual exhibition (2021)
Isolation - Blanco Gallery, virtual exhibition (2020)
Feel, Don’t Feel - Leeds, West Yorkshire (2019)
Royal Drawing School Foundation Year Show - Trinity Buoy Wharf, London (2017)
Education
Royal College of Art (2021 - 2023)
Leeds Arts University (2017 - 2020)
Royal Drawing School (2016 - 2017)
Lavender Hill Studios (2014 - 2015)
Press
Tomorrow's Talent Vol. II, Booooooom Magazine (2021)
Editor's Pick, Booooooom Magazine - https://www.booooooom.com/2020/08/25/isolation-by-artist-preslav-kostov/
Issue 12 Portraits & Figures, Artit Magazine (p.68)