Onnik Karanfilyan is among the most recognizable and original contemporary Bulgarian graphic artists - an artist whose visual language combines virtuoso technique, intellectual depth and rich symbolism. Born in 1963 in Sliven, he graduated from the National Art High School "Tsanko Lavrenov" in Plovdiv and the National Academy of Arts in Sofia, majoring in "Graphics", in the class of Prof. Stoyan Stoyanov - Techi. His diploma work became an event for Bulgarian graphic art, as it combined classical graphic techniques with digital technologies for the first time. His is also the first Bulgarian digital graphic, printed in a limited edition.
Karanfilyan's work is built on a complex system of metaphors, historical references and philosophical allusions. In his works, one finds ancient civilizations, mythological characters, letters, books, ropes, butterflies and signs - elements that have become symbols of human memory, culture and spiritual journey. His graphics impress with encyclopedic imagery and exceptional precision of drawing, turning each work into a space for contemplation and discovery.
Among his most significant creative cycles and works are “The Tightrope Dancer”, which has become a kind of metaphor for human existence, “Qvo Vadis Homine”, “Golden Sneakers”, the “Yellow Butterflies” cycle, as well as his series of philosophical and social bookplates, which brought him international recognition. A special place is also occupied by the bookplate he created for the world-famous musician Sting - a testament to the author's high prestige in international artistic circles.
Over the years, Onnik Karanfilyan has participated in dozens of international exhibitions and prestigious forums in Europe and Asia. His works have been presented in Japan, Spain, Great Britain, Germany, Turkey and a number of other countries, and his works are part of museum and private collections around the world. Among his early successes was the selection for the prestigious Osaka Art Triennale in 1994, where he was the only Bulgarian artist selected among the submitted candidates.
Today, Onnik Karanfilyan continues to create art that transcends the boundaries of traditional graphics and becomes a philosophical narrative about man, time and cultural memory. His works are both an aesthetic experience and an intellectual challenge - an encounter with a world in which play, knowledge and imagination exist in perfect balance.
