August 6 marks the centennial anniversary of the most celebrated Bulgarian applied graphic artist Stefan Kanchev. To mark the occasion, the postal administration released a special postage stamp, designed by Prof. Todor Vardjiev.

Stefan Kanchev was born in Kalofer, his father was artist Kiro Kanchev. His father’s name is connected with the icons and murals in three churches in Kalofer and of the Holy Mother of God church in Stara Zagora, as well as churches in the environs of Plovdiv and Stara Zagora. “As was customary in those days, I helped him with the rougher work,” the son says. “I would help him and learn the trade at the same time. Later, when I was at school, my cousin Georgi Popov-John acquainted me with many artists. So, even before the art academy, I was doing applied arts, I was an apprentice for quite some time.

Stefan Kanchev studied with renowned artist, academician Dechko Uzunov. He has also worked with famous names such as Iliya Beshkov, Boris Angelushev, Alexander Zhendov and others. His very first works earned him recognition for their originality, for example in the art of logos. The emblematic logos of the Union of Bulgarian Artists, Bulgarian National TV, the National Palace of Culture, the Puppet Theatre, of different institutions are all his. He is the author of more than 800 logos and over 700 stamps, envelopes and seals. The famed “chess” stamp from 1947 – the first stamp in the world on the subject, is also his work. The artist also designed books, magazines, posters, coins. Throughout his life his motto was: “To do high quality work, to strive to attain beauty.” His works have been included in prestigious international handbooks, atlases, albums, encyclopedias. He had the knack of putting his ideas down on paper in one fell swoop. He earned recognition and awards in Bulgaria and abroad. In 1966, names of world renown in the field declared his 23 works put on show at the first trademarks exhibition in New York, to be the unchallenged apex in graphic design. In 1967 he was admitted to the World Association of Graphic Designers. In 1992, the International Biographical Centre of Cambridge bestowed on him the 20th Century Award for Achievement. Two years later he won the International Trademark Centre’s Euro Design award.

To mark Stefan Kanchev’s 80^th birthday, an exhibition of his works was mounted in Sofia. Stefan Kanchev passed away in 2001 at the venerable age of 86. But he left a deep, unforgettable imprint on Bulgarian and world culture.

English version: Milena Daynova