Dimitar Deltchev

Jewellery maker

©Mihail Novakov

Wearable objects

Dimitar's curiosity and talent drive him
Sometimes he revisits old pieces
He has a playful approach to his craft

Dimitar Deltchev is one of the most famous and inspiring Bulgarian jewellery makers with an impressive oeuvre of works. His interest in jewellery started during his metal classes in high school. Later, he continued his education in the Budapest Art Academy focusing on glass. Nowadays, it seems that he is able to create beautiful jewellery from almost anything. From rubber, washing machine hoses, plastic, gold, silver and steel, he creates his unusual pieces. Besides his successful career as a jewellery making participating in exhibitions all over the world, he is a professor of Мetal and Jewellery at the National Art Academy in Sofia and teaches the new generation of Bulgarian makers.

Interview

©Mihail Novakov

©Mihail Novakov

What has had the biggest influence on you?: I was very lucky to go to the academy in Budapest in 1969. This allowed me access to great professors and fellow students. One of my professors was a student of Victor Vasarely and I was very much impressed by Op art back then.
What is your success story?: Almost 20 years ago me and two fellow colleagues won a grant to show our work abroad. Instead of organizing a group exhibition, we decided to tour some of the best jewellery galleries in Western Europe and present our work. That’s how everything started.
What inspires your approach to jewellery making?: I like feeling and exploring different materials. My approach is always the same, because I start from the material itself and my ability to handle it. Even if I’m not certain how to do it, I always know what I want to achieve.
What are you working on at the moment?: I resumed my work with mesh structures from steel. I twist and manipulate the mesh into different objects. Then I proceed with a galvanised zinc coating, in order to get different colour nuances. I know what I want to achieve, but of course the process itself brings surprises.

Dimitar Deltchev is a master artisan: he began his career in 1964 and he started teaching in 1982