Nevena Niagolova is an artist and designer working with a variety of mediums. Born in Sofia, Bulgaria, she now resides in Toronto.
Starting with drawing and painting lessons at the age of ten she continued her studies in the National Fine Arts School in Sofia. Since, she has received her BDes in graphic design from OCADU, has studied interaction design at the Canadian Film Centre Media Lab, and has finished her Masters of Architecture in University of Toronto.
After Niagolova’s classical training, she developed an interest in abstract art and interactivity, and in particular the internal conversations a work of art could trigger with a viewer. Her work focuses on the pure expression of emotions, fascinations, influences and the like, gathered through her experiences of the world—a way of an emotional release. In the case of her paintings—they are spontaneous bursts of energy with a dynamic, high contrast relationships; whether explosive or calm—there is always a purpose and balance. Though constantly evolving, there is a sense of determined exploration through intuition and excitement.
- The Artist Project 2025, Toronto, Canada
- ArtWalk in the Square Artist Interview, Toronto, Canada
- Interview with Svetlana Dicheva at the Bulgarian National Radio, Sofia, Bulgaria
- Back at Mallo, Mallo, Toronto, Canada
2021
- Hello Mallo, Mallo, Toronto, Canada
2018
- Momentary Bursts, Toronto Heliconian Club, Toronto, Canada
2017
- Messy Excitements, Gramophone, Sofia, Bulgaria
2010
- Solo Exhibition, Labspace Studio, Toronto, Canada
- The Artist Project 2024 Apr.11-14th, Toronto, Canada
- Flow, Group exhibition, Ottawa, Canada, Flow, Group exhibition, Ottawa, Canada, Flow, Group exhibition, Ottawa, Canada, Flow, Group exhibition, Ottawa, Canada
2021
- Queen West Art Craw, Toronto, Canada
2021
- Riverdale Art Walk, Group exhibition, Toronto, Canada
2020
- The Artist Project 2020 Feb.20-23rd, Toronto, Canada
2019
- 4×4 …and a Little More, Hashtag Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2019
- The Artist Project 2019, Toronto, Canada
2018
- Salon Exhibit, The Toronto Heliconian Club, Toronto, Canada
2018
- The Artist Project 2018, Toronto, Canada
2017
- The Artist Project 2017, Toronto, Canada
2015
- Toronto Outdoor Exhibition, Toronto, Canada
2009
- Found Wanting, CFC Media Lab, Scotiabank Nuit Blanche, Toronto, Canada
2007
- Monosaic, Labspace Studio, Toronto, Canada
2007
- Night of the Living Artists, Florence, Italy
2007
- Manifestation for Art in Malmo, Malmo, Sweden
2006
- Montorontreal, Methinks Presents, Toronto, Canada
- The Toronto Heliconian Club, Toronto, Canada
2006
- Ramazzoti 2006 Art Colony, Kavadarci, Macedonia
- Master of Architecture, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
2010
- Global Architecture 2010, University of Toronto & UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
2009
- CFC Media Lab Interactive Art & Entertainment Program, Canadian Film Center, Toronto, Canada (full scholarship)
2008
- Florence Off-Campus Advanced Studies, OCAD University, Florence, Italy (full scholarship)
2006
- BDes in editorial Graphic design, OCAD University, Toronto, Canada
2000
- National School of Fine Arts Ilia Petrov, Sofia, Bulgaria
- Architect, Ontario Association of Architects, Toronto, Canada
- Member, CARFAC
- Living Future Accreditation & Member, International Living Future Institute
- Architect / Artist in Residence, RED Studio Inc. Architects, Toronto, Canada
2017-22
- Intern Architect / Artist in Residence, RED Studio Inc. Architects, Toronto, Canada
2005-P
- Freelance Designer, Nevena Niagolova, Toronto, Canada
2018-P
- Graphic Designer, Ratio.bg (NGO), Sofia, Bulgaria
2014-17
- Architectural Designer / Project Coordinator, Fishtnk Design Factory, Toronto, Canada
2013
- Accreditation Exhibition / Woodshop Support, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
2010-17
- Background Artist, Mercury Filmworks, Ottawa, Canada
2007
- Teaching Assistant, Principles of Interaction Design, OCAD University, Toronto, Canada
2006-07
- Interface and Graphic Designer / Research Assistant, MDCN / Mobile Nation, OCAD University, Toronto, Canada
- Niagolova, Nevena, “The Abstract Fun Colouring Book”, Nevena Niagolova, 2019
2019
- Niagolova, Nevena, “Doggy In A Bag”, Nevena Niagolova, 2019
2012
- Bohlen, Marc; Maharika, Ilya; Sargent, Paul Lloyd; Zaianty, Silvia; Lee, Nicole; Delgado, Angelica Piedrahita; Niagolova, Nevena; Vogelsteller, Fabian. “Prototyping Ubiquitous Biosensing Applications through Speculative Design”, 2012 8th International Conference on Intelligent Environments (IE). 2012, pp: 198-205
- BR41N.IO Brain-Computer Interface Design Hackathon Third place with a team of 5 in bci multiplay category
2009
- Nevena Niagolova, Young Blood, Applied Arts Magazine, Toronto, Canada Featured as a Young Blood designer in the July issue of Applied Arts Magazine
2007
- OCAD Design Competition, Toronto, Canada Second place within a team of five, for the design project “Compass”
2006
- CONNECT Design Competition, Design Exchange (DX), Toronto, Canada Fourth place within a team of two, for the design project “Sheer Independence”
2005
- OCAD Design Competition, Toronto, Canada Merit award within a team of five, for the design “Space Needs Ideas”
- Revit Avanced Training, Red Cage, Toronto, Canada
2015-P
- Unity 3D, Varios courses
2017-18
- Danish I & II, Nordic Languages Initiative, Toronto, Canada
2017
- Creative Writing Fiction, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
2017
- Creative Writing Non-Fiction, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
2017
- Design of Serious Games, Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia
2016
- Science Communication in Theory and Practice, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
2015-18
- Argentine Tango, University of Toronto Tango Club, Toronto, Canada
2007-08
- Italian, Florence, Italy
2007
- Book Binding, Toronto, Canada
2002-06
- Bronze Casting, Paper Casting, Photography 1&2, Colour Photography 1&2, Printmaking, Etching, OCAD University, Toronto, Canada
- The Artist Project, Toronto, Canada
2015
2015
2015
2012
2012
2010
2010
2010
2009
- During TOJam #4, Nevena & Milan created the game Bloom
2009
2009
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2008
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