About The Artist

The artist Yordan Kondov Jr. was born on 3rd of January 1984 in the city of Varna, Bulgaria. His paternal grandfather Yordan Kondov Sr. was an eminent local political figure and an engineer. The painter’s other grandfather was among the most famous medical doctors in the city. 

Kondov’s mother is a literature teacher and his father was a mechanic. Such a family background almost completely turned Yordan away from the world of art. From a very early age he decided to follow his maternal grandfather’s footsteps and become a doctor. In 1998 Kondov entered a highschool specialized in biology and chemistry to better prepare for studying medicine. 

Most artists in history went against all odds to become who they are. Yordan Kondov did the opposite for decades. He completely ignored the early signs of his artistic talent and tried to follow other people’s life path. 

In 1995 two art teachers in school spotted Kondov’s abilities and encouraged him to become a painter. Most people would be delighted to hear they have a gift but Yordan felt offended. Back then he considered being an artist as something that is not serious enough or even meaningless. 

Nevertheless in his spare time Yordan created his first abstract compositions with egg tempera without realizing that something was trying to manifest itself. The intention of becoming a doctor was too strong at that time and it managed to suppress any artistic talent. 

Later in 1998 Yordan started a career in latin ballroom dancing. He became a competitor winning a few medals but with no significant success.  Nevertheless these years showed Yordan that there are other possibilities in life and science was not the only option. 

It was a strange circle. At first Kondov denied his nature as an abstract expressionist so he could center his life around science. Later he started doing something more closely related to art only to realize painting was the only true desire.

Unfortunately this did not happen overnight. In 2002 after graduating from high school Yordan knew biology and chemistry were too far away from his true interests. From 2002 to 2007 the artist studied journalism, public relations and psychology in a local university. Kondov graduated Magna Cum Laude but never managed to find work as a TV or radio journalist. 

He had an inborn nasal malformation and as a result his voice sounded horribly on a microphone. After many job interviews the artist was finally told that a career related to public speaking was never going to happen for him.  

Years of working as a dance teacher followed after that. During that period he also organized a few small business ventures. More and more often Kondov painted landscapes and abstract expressionist paintings so he finally found out what was obvious decades before that.  

Yordan’s first art related endeavor happened in 2011 when he became a freelance graphic designer. Unfortunately this activity did not provide the freedom Kondov was looking for. Working with clients every day was not the life he desired.

He had to follow dozens of meaningless demands and endless changes in the designs until the final version was approved by the client. This reality made the artist quit graphic design for good. Today Kondov doesn’t do commissions because the process resembles too much the years spent as graphic designer.

Now Yordan creates large abstract paintings full time. This is the only real desire he has and there are no more fake distractions and goals.

As an artist Kondov tries to use appealing colors based on one of the color wheels in art. For too long abstract expressionism was centered around lifeless color schemes and many people were repulsed by such an approach. Yordan wants to attract more people to the world of abstract art because he believes it could be truly pleasant to the mass audience. Painters should not be a small closed society that appreciates itself. The artist wants to attract more and more people to art and this is a true lifetime goal.