Zlatka Paneva

Zlatka Paneva is a Bulgarian-born, Los Angeles-based artist. She holds an MFA from the Academy of Fine Art in Sofia, Bulgaria, and studied ceramics at the Carlo Zauli Studio in Faenza, Italy.

Paneva is an artist whose innovative approaches and technical experimentation dissolve the boundaries between media, allowing her work to exist in a unique and expressive visual language.

Her diverse background includes sculpture, graphic design, jewelry, and interior design.She has successfully translated her artistic vision into the design and production of ceramic art, tiles, and design. Ms Paneva prints and illustration collection RococcoLA enjoys a worldwide cult following and has been licensed by prominent companies and featured in publications such as The New York Times, Elle, Vogue, Vanity Fair, Capital/Mexico, and others.

Since 2018, she has focused exclusively on painting and ceramics. With her sense of harmony and a new unique visual expression, she creates memorable images of humanity as an integral part of the hidden patterns and silent structures of Nature! Her works tell stories – modern mythologies shaped by instincts, imagination and emotions.

Her work is included in museum, public, and private collections across the U.S., Europe, and Asia.

“I accept the world as it is and rearrange it in my own personal way... It's emotional.”

6 questions with Zlatka Paneva

We ask our emerging artists 6 questions to uncover what drives their work, practice, and creativity.

What themes or questions do you find recurring in your work?

a. The human experience and the individual’s sense of existence. My art is a kind of compilation... past and present, fantasy and reality, humor and commentary, logic and absurdity coexist in my work! b. In my art I pursuing the mystery and beauty as subjective experiences is important. The art is not merely about answers but about exploration, discovery, and connection. This also, allowing the audience to bring their own experiences and emotions into the encounter with my art. c. The balance and interdependence between humans and nature, woven into every thread of the pattern of life.forming a vision of beautiful coexistence.

Can you describe a pivotal moment in your journey as an artist?

I was 10 years old. I drew a portrait that was on the wall at school. My grandmother showed it to our relatives and my aunt told me that I would become an artist. From that moment on, I believed...

What materials or processes are most important in your practice - and why?

For me, making art combines all kinds of activities: thinking, analyzing, experimenting and above all the effort to synchronize the spirit and the matter. The concepts, emotions and confusions come into forms and colors to translate the concept into the language of material.The idea determinate the style and media i use! It is important to recognize the partnership with the material and the result is a collaboration( between spirit and material) that turns the idea into art!

How do you want people to feel when they experience your work?

Just like the moments when they are faced with something they are attracted to but, cannot fully explain it.

What does a typical day in your studio look like?

It really depends on what I’m working on. My studio is also where I live, so I don’t have a typical day—and I like it that way. Every piece demands something different. Sometimes I wake up with a clear image in my head and dive in immediately. Other times, I have no idea where I’m going…I am just do nothing for a while and after several cups of coffee, I just start laying down colors or sketching, on my book or on the computer letting the work reveal itself. The process is always unpredictable, and that is what I am looking for… The rest of the time unfolds without structure—I might read, check my horoscope, listen to music, scroll through images on my phone, tidy up the studio... and then leave. It’s all part of the rhythm of being present and waiting for the next moment of clarity or chaos to begin.

What dreams or hopes do you have for your artistic journey?

We are all that we create." In every painting, I remain true to my imagination - believing that sincerity can shape something that leaves the world a little better than I found it.