Artist CV
Daniela Atanasova - Visual Artist
Born 1977, Ruse, Bulgaria
Based and works in Ocean City, New Jersey, USA
Education & Training
1996–2001 — Master of Fine Arts in Art Education, specialization in Painting,
Veliko Tarnovo University “St. Cyril and St. Methodius,” Faculty of Fine Arts, Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
Master’s thesis: The Symbol and the Human in the European Gothic West
2003–2016 — Professional training in CAD/CAM and graphic design software - (Consult X, CorelDRAW), "Paruchev Fashion House", Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
2002–2003 — Art Internship Abroad (Council on International Educational Exchange – CIEE)
Mentor: The artist Bobbi Heisman, Ocean City, New Jersey, USA
2001–2002 — Postgraduate Qualification Course in Fashion Design,
Veliko Tarnovo University “St. Cyril and St. Methodius,” Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
1994–1996 — Long - term drawing and painting studies under the mentorship of artist Hrisand Hrisandov, Ruse, Bulgaria
1991–1995 — Secondary Specialized (Vocational) Education in Fashion Design
and Apparel Pattern Making,
Technical High School for Clothing and Fashion Design “Nedka Ivan Lazarova,” Ruse, Bulgaria
Selected Group Exhibitions
2016–2026 — Ocean City Fine Arts League, Art on Asbury Gallery, Ocean City, NJ. Regular participation in juried themed group exhibitions, including:
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"Twilight" (2026)
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"Weather" (2026)
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"Doors and Windows (2026)
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"Black, White, and Blue" (2026)
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"In the Manner of Your Favorite Artist" (2025)
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"Reflections" (2025)
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"Delicious" (2025) — Honorable Mention
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"Black, White, and Red" (2025)
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"Under the Sea" (2024)
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"Impressionism, Expressionism, Abstraction" (2024)
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"From the Kitchen" (2024)
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"The Blues" (2024)
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"Dusk to Dawn" (2023)
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"Anything Goes" (2017)
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"Weather" (2017)
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"Mixed Media" (2017) — Honorable Mention
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"Black, White, and Color of Your Choice" (2017)
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"Petit Show" (2016)
2002–2014 — The Autumn Salon of Veliko Tarnovo Artists - Regular participation in yearly juried group exhibitions
2003 — "No Beach Tag Required" - Sagemore Gallery, Ocean City, NJ
1996–2001— Group student exhibitions, Faculty of Fine Arts -
Veliko Tarnovo University “St. Cyril and St. Methodius,” Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
Awards
2025 — Honorable Mention, juried Themed “Delicious “group exhibition, Ocean City Fine Arts League, Ocean City, NJ
2017 — Honorable Mention, juried Themed “Mixed Media” group exhibition, Ocean City Fine Arts League, Ocean City, NJ
Collections
Private collections in Bulgaria, the United Kingdom, the United States
Professional Experience
2017–present — Founder and independent artist, Sea Shell Art by Daniela (Etsy), Original hand-decorated sculptural and mixed media works
2016–present — Henna tattoo artist and mentor, Jersey Girl, Ocean City, NJ
2003–2016 — Fashion designer and apparel pattern maker, "Paruchev Fashion House", Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
Selected Press
Ocean City Magazine (online edition), January 2024 — Feature article by Kristen Dowd, “Daniela Atanasova, Henna Tattoo Artist, Makes Her Mark on OCNJ.”
Ocean City Magazine, August 2023 — Interview by Chelsea Valcourt, “Meet the Maker: Artist Daniela Atanasova.”