photographer
poshtarov.net
I was born in Bulgaria in 1986, growing up in a home where art and poetry were the very essence of life, thanks to my artist father and poet mother. This rich environment was the catalyst for my journey into the arts. My early education at the National High School of Arts in Varna paved the way for further exploration, and I soon found myself immersed in the cultural heartbeat of Paris, studying Plastic Arts at the Sorbonne.
My work started to gain traction early on, with a nomination for the Cartier-Bresson Award by the Bulgarian Cultural Institute in Paris. Over the years, I've had the privilege of showcasing my work in 55 exhibitions across Europe, Asia, North America and Australia.
In 2011, I launched Eastern Europe’s first online art gallery, which provided the financial independence needed to pursue my personal projects. The role of an art dealer allowed me to explore long-term artistic endeavors with the freedom to express my vision authentically. This led to the creation of the PhotoAnthology Foundation in 2021, a non-profit dedicated to socially impactful documentary projects.
One of my most significant works is "The Last Man Standing In The Rhodope Mountains," a photobook published in 2022. This 14-year project involved exploring 985 villages in the Rhodope Mountains, documenting one of the last remaining authentic communities in contemporary Europe. This journey, filled with nights spent in tents and encounters with the wild, resulted in a deeply personal and cultural narrative. The book is now part of prestigious collections, including MoMA in New York, MEP Paris, and the Museum of Photography in Berlin.
My latest project, "Father and Son," is an international exploration of the emotional bonds between fathers and sons, aiming to highlight the intimate and often unspoken connection between generations, set against the backdrop of their cultural heritage. The project has received international acclaim, winning the Sony World Photography Professional Awards, the LensCulture Portrait Awards, and the Cortona On The Move Award, among others. It has become a cross-cultural phenomenon, capturing stories from 9 countries.
Through my diverse projects, I seek to capture the essence of our shared experiences and foster a deeper understanding of the human condition. Whether it’s exploring the silent bonds between fathers and sons or addressing environmental concerns, my work aims to ignite conversations and encourage a more empathetic and connected world.
My work started to gain traction early on, with a nomination for the Cartier-Bresson Award by the Bulgarian Cultural Institute in Paris. Over the years, I've had the privilege of showcasing my work in 55 exhibitions across Europe, Asia, North America and Australia.
In 2011, I launched Eastern Europe’s first online art gallery, which provided the financial independence needed to pursue my personal projects. The role of an art dealer allowed me to explore long-term artistic endeavors with the freedom to express my vision authentically. This led to the creation of the PhotoAnthology Foundation in 2021, a non-profit dedicated to socially impactful documentary projects.
One of my most significant works is "The Last Man Standing In The Rhodope Mountains," a photobook published in 2022. This 14-year project involved exploring 985 villages in the Rhodope Mountains, documenting one of the last remaining authentic communities in contemporary Europe. This journey, filled with nights spent in tents and encounters with the wild, resulted in a deeply personal and cultural narrative. The book is now part of prestigious collections, including MoMA in New York, MEP Paris, and the Museum of Photography in Berlin.
My latest project, "Father and Son," is an international exploration of the emotional bonds between fathers and sons, aiming to highlight the intimate and often unspoken connection between generations, set against the backdrop of their cultural heritage. The project has received international acclaim, winning the Sony World Photography Professional Awards, the LensCulture Portrait Awards, and the Cortona On The Move Award, among others. It has become a cross-cultural phenomenon, capturing stories from 9 countries.
Through my diverse projects, I seek to capture the essence of our shared experiences and foster a deeper understanding of the human condition. Whether it’s exploring the silent bonds between fathers and sons or addressing environmental concerns, my work aims to ignite conversations and encourage a more empathetic and connected world.
