More than 40 contemporary Bulgarian artists and over 60 current artworks will be offered in an international auction. The works will be available for viewing both in person at Doza Gallery and online via the British platform “The Auction Collective” from September 26 to October 11.
The auction is organized by Doza Gallery, Art Advisory Ltd., and The Auction Collective.
The organizers of “Sofia Calling! A modern way to collect contemporary art,” aim to challenge the deeply ingrained belief that there is no collector interest in contemporary art. Until now, auctions in Bulgaria have consistently bypassed the prominent names on the contemporary art scene. The trade in so-called "old masters" has dominated the auction market for decades. This has significantly distorted the perception of cultural value and artistic merit that collectors build around Bulgarian art. Despite the long-standing efforts of private galleries and contemporary art experts, the prejudice against collecting art created in the present day remains very strong in Bulgaria. Meanwhile, artists from different generations continue to work actively in their studios, open exhibitions, and represent both themselves and our culture worldwide. Their art is vibrant and memorable, offering high quality and a wide variety of creative styles and artistic approaches.
Although the art scene in Bulgaria is incredibly active, the art market remains underdeveloped. Many of the popular commercial mechanisms used worldwide, such as contemporary art auctions, are still unfamiliar and underutilized.
The Sofia Calling! auction will be held both online and in person. The artists' works will be part of an exhibition at Doza Gallery, while simultaneously being uploaded to the British auction platform The Auction Collective. From September 26 to October 11, all artworks will be available for purchase through the platform, which will handle the distribution of the selection to its international clients.
The Auction Collective is an auction platform with over 250 auctions to its name. Its clients include galleries like Saatchi Gallery, museums like The Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, numerous contemporary artists from the UK, artistic collaborations such as Mr. Doodle & Oracle Red Bull Racing, and brands like Vivienne Westwood, Equinox, and more.
The platform’s team includes auction specialists from Christie's, eBay, and Artsy.
Our auction is designed to be promoted both to the audience of The Auction Collective and Indy.auction, as well as to the public in Bulgaria.
