In the 1980s, on the initiative of the local authorities and as part of the national exhibition “Sculpture and Decorative Art in the Open Air”, the garden next to the City Art Gallery of Varna—today’s Atlantic Solidarity Square became the starting point of the Open-Air Museum. Among the first works exhibited were The Holocaust (1983) by Ivan Rusev and Mother (1987) by Ziyatin Nuriev.
- The sculpture Holocaust, carved from Sandanski marble, commemorates the genocide of Jews during World War II. Resembling a monumental tombstone, it depicts three lying human figures, including a child, and powerfully conveys the tragedy of the Jewish people. Its creator, Ivan Rusev, is one of Bulgaria’s most prominent contemporary sculptors.
- Mother is a sculptural composition carved in marble from the town of Sandanski, symbolizing the inseparable bond between a mother and child. Executed in Ziyatin Nuriev’s characteristic laconic style, it fits harmoniously into Atlantic Solidarity Square. In 1987, Mother won the grand prize at the national exhibition “Sculpture and Decorative Art in the Open Air.”
In the yard of the City Art Gallery Boris Georgiev, visitors can explore works by some of Bulgaria’s most distinguished sculptors.
- One highlight is A Figure of a Woman by Velichko Minekov—a graceful bronze sculpture in the classical style, capturing a woman gazing thoughtfully toward the sky.
- Folk Singer is a white marble sculpture depicting a stylized male figure holding a musical instrument. It symbolizes the deep connection between the composer-singer and their homeland and can also be seen as a reference to the myth of Orpheus. Its creator, Krum Vasev, was a young artist at the time and received an award at the Third Triennial of Small Sculpture in Budapest (1975), chosen from among 500 works from 28 countries—a significant recognition of his talent.
- Composition – Two Figures is a bronze sculpture depicting a woman with a child, symbolizing motherhood. Created in a modernist style, its angular forms are characteristic of Angel Stanev’s work. Stanev is recognized as one of Bulgaria’s leading contemporary sculptors.
- Master Manol, or Michael, is a mythological figure from Balkan folklore. According to legend, he crafted wings to escape Turkification. Sculptor Alyosha Kafedzhiyski depicts Master Manol poised to fly, gazing at the sky. Kafedzhiyski has received numerous regional and national awards for his work in sculpture and monumental art.
- Debris takes the form of a deformed torso, reminiscent of a piece of rock. Created in Alyosha Kafedzhiyski’s characteristic expressive style, the sculpture blends harmoniously into the park surroundings of the City Art Gallery. It was made as part of the national exhibition “Sculpture and Plastic Art in the Open Air.”
- Entire is an art installation whose round shape and materials symbolize unity and the circle of life in nature. Over time, crawling plants have naturally intertwined with it, making it a part of the park environment. Its creator, Emil Popov, is a leading contemporary Bulgarian sculptor and a professor at the National Academy of Arts in Sofia.
Over the years, new works by Bulgarian and international artists have enriched the sculptural exhibition at Atlantic Solidarity Square.
- Among them is Flight by Varna sculptor Hristo Hristov. Made of bronze, it depicts a stylized little girl with flowing hair, arms outstretched as if taking flight. According to the artist, “Plastic art expresses the eternal human aspiration to rise above malice, fulfill dreams, and discover ever more.”
- Icarus is a bronze sculpture by the renowned Varna sculptor Alyosha Kafedzhiyski, also known for the monumental work in front of the Varna Municipality building. This “little” Icarus symbolizes humanity’s eternal desire to fly, both literally and metaphorically.
- Beginning, by sculptor Zhivko Donchev, conveys the idea of a primal explosion. Cast in bronze, it depicts a male figure aiming at an imaginary point in space. According to the artist, the sculpture symbolizes how space emerges from an amorphous mass.
