Inspiration

On inspiration
and art

Hristo Mihailov is a visual artist. He works in a wide range of fields, including sculpture, painting, mosaic, wood sculpture, jewellery and conceptual art. He experiments with lasers and with the different angles at which light refracts. He is an aikido sensei (teacher), shihan, 6th dan. What inspires him in aikido is the philosophy and spirituality it carries. 

Exhibitions

Creative path so far

107

2025

107
“Eternity” exhibition with the “Obelisk” Aikido Society – painting and jewellery
Sofia

2024

105
“The Magical” exhibition with the “Obelisk” Aikido Society
Sofia

104
“Angels – Counterpoint” exhibition at G Art Gallery
Plovdiv

2023

103
“The World of Stone” exhibition with the “Obelisk” Aikido Society
Sofia

102
“Blades” exhibition at Grand Hotel Sofia
Sofia

–
Launch of the second part of “The Temple of Light” trilogy, “The Initiation”, at the St. St. Cyril and Methodius National Library
Sofia

2022

101
“The Human Being” exhibition with the “Obelisk” Aikido Society
Sofia

100
“The Five Elements” exhibition at the “Orpheus” self-knowledge centre
Sofia

2018

090
“The Temple of Colours” exhibition at the “Ellinor’s House” gallery
Sofia

2017

088
“New Life” exhibition with the “Obelisk” Aikido Society
Sofia

087
“A Portrait from Many Sides” exhibition at “Ellinor House”, a club house for art, culture, fashion and events
Sofia

–
Publication of “Mythological Subjects”, an album of the artist's work, by Zahariy Stoyanov Publishing House
Sofia

2016

“Goddesses” exhibition at “Ellinor House”, a club house for art, culture, fashion and events
Sofia

“Gods and Adepts” exhibition at the “Minerva” gallery, Grand Hotel “Sofia”
Sofia

2015

“Temple of Light” installation at Credo Bonum gallery
Sofia

2014

“Temple of Knowledge” installation at the “Kunstbogen” gallery
Vienna

2013

“Temple of Proportions II” exhibition and installation at the “1908” contemporary art gallery
Sofia

2012

“Knowledge” exhibition of sculpture and painting, with a concert by the Cosmic Voices of Bulgaria conducted by Vanya Moneva, “Obelisk” art centre
Sofia

“Temple of Proportions I” exhibition and installation at the “Georges Papazoff” gallery
Plovdiv

2011

“9 Templar Swords” exhibition and charity concert, as a donation to the Bulgarian Red Cross for first aid to children injured in car accidents
Sofia

2010

“Templar Symbols and Knowledge”, a conceptual art work and charity event held together with the Order of the Knights Templar and the Bulgarian Red Cross
Sofia

Installation in an exhibition of “Sector 13” at the Union of Bulgarian Artists
Sofia

Solo exhibition of painting and sculpture
Kavarna

Charity event and exhibition held together with the Order of the Knights Templar and the Bulgarian Red Cross
Sofia

2008

Paintings in an exhibition of the Aikido Society at the Sofia University gallery
Sofia

Special guest at the annual national exhibition of Japanese artists
Tokyo, Japan

Jewellery exhibition at the
“Hristo Gradechliev” art gallery
Kavarna

“The Temple”, a solo themed exhibition of painting, sculpture and jewellery at the “Ikar” gallery
Sofia

Sculpture in the exhibition “The Rhodopes – Spirit and Tradition” at the “Alfa-art” gallery 
Varna

Exhibition of painting, sculpture and jewellery for the celebration of the Art department of the Regional Library 
Shumen

2007

Sculptural works in an exhibition at the “Alfa-art” gallery
Varna

The “Zibyutidi” art action with the poet Dyanko Dyanov and the archaeologist Georgi Kitov at the “Zahariy Stoyanov” literary salon and gallery
Sofia

Exhibition of sculpture, painting, jewellery and mosaics with a hologram at the “Ibis” hotel (part of the seventh Festival of Bulgaria, organised by the “Alfa-art” gallery)
Tokyo, Japan

Painting, stained-glass sculpture and decorative ceramics with bronze relief in an exhibition of Bulgarian art organised by the “Alfa-art” gallery (part of the 10th anniversary edition of the Eurasian Film Festival in Moscow)
Moscow, Russia

2006

Exhibition of holograms and hanging sculpture at the City Gallery
Varna

Solo exhibition
Skopje, Macedonia

Solo exhibition of painting and sculpture
Pernik

Joint exhibition with Boyan Yanev at the “Zahariy Stoyanov” literary salon and gallery
Sofia

Charity exhibition and concert by artists and musicians who practise aikido, at the “Zahariy Stoyanov” literary salon and gallery
Sofia

2005

Jewellery exhibition
Istanbul, Turkey

“Four Directions” exhibition – sculpture, painting, jewellery and mosaics with holograms at the “Zahariy Stoyanov” literary salon and gallery
Sofia

2004

Exhibition of ceramics and sculpture with the Georgian ceramicist Otar Sharabidze at the “Stalbata” gallery
Sofia

2002

Exhibition of artists from a martial arts club
Sofia

2001

Solo exhibition of sculpture Varna

2000

Exhibition at the “Darzalas” gallery
Varna

“Martenitsa Amulets” art action with an installation
Sofia

1999

Solo exhibition of one-of-a-kind jewellery
Varna

Installation with lasers and belongings of Ivan Vazov
Kazanlak

Solo exhibition of miniature sculpture and jewellery
Sofia

Show of jewellery and laser installations
Sofia

1998

Painting exhibition
Sofia

Solo exhibition of sculpture and drawings
Varna

Joint exhibition with architects
Sofia

1997

Solo exhibition
Sofia

Solo exhibition
Damascus, Syria

“Art Book” exhibition
Sofia

Sculpture exhibition and performance – laser beams and fluorescent paint
Sofia

Ultraviolet light, human bodies
Damascus, Syria

Performance in the “Sofia Underground” art action
Sofia

Solo exhibition – hanging sculpture
Sofia

Pop-up exhibition of graphic drawings
Sofia

Performance with the poet Dyanko Dyanov – laser beams
Sofia

“Aikido Harmony”, a performance of light and movement
Sofia

1996

6 exhibitions with sculpture, laser beams and fluorescent paint
Sofia and Varna

Solo installation
Sofia

Solo exhibition of sculpture and drawings
Sofia

1995

Exhibition of avant-garde artists
Sofia

Solo exhibition – art action with laser beams, painting and sculpture
Varna

Solo exhibition
Bratislava, Slovakia

Pop-up exhibition of sculpture in silver and crystals
Vienna, Austria

Solo exhibition of painting
Prague, Czech Republic

Painting 
Sofia

Solo exhibition
Sofia

6 exhibitions with installations, jewellery and sculpture
Sofia and Varna

Solo exhibition of prints and gouache collages
Varna

1994

Group exhibition
Sofia

Solo exhibition – laser installation, sculpture, jewellery, collages, prints
Sofia, National Palace of Culture

Avant-garde installation
Plovdiv

Installation, ultraviolet light and fluorescent drawings
Sofia

Installations at LEHM–94, an avant-garde symposium in clay
Aachen, Germany

Solo exhibition – 6 installations
Sofia

Exhibition of avant-garde artists
Sofia

1993

Solo exhibition of sculpture, painting, ultraviolet light and laser impressions
Varna – Sofia

Rope sculpture
Sofia

Laser impressions, video mechanics and sound
Kazanlak

1992

Group exhibition
Grenoble, France

Solo exhibition of sculpture and jewellery
Sofia

6 exhibitions of jewellery and sculpture
Sofia

Solo exhibition
Kavarna

Solo exhibition
Rusalka

Solo exhibition of painting, sculpture and small sculpture
Sofia

1991

Solo exhibition of sculpture
Sofia

Group exhibition
Golden Sands

Solo exhibition
Rusalka

1990

Solo exhibition of jewellery
Varna

Three exhibitions
Sofia

Group exhibition 
Grenoble, France

1989

Small sculpture and jewellery
Sofia and Varna

Sculpture
Golden Sands

Jewellery
Vienna, Austria and Liverpool, England

1988

Wood sculpture
Sofia