Under the patronage of the Mayor of Burgas, Mr. Dimitar Nikolov, DG Art Gallery—the successor to the Gallery of Modern Art and Vivacom Art Hall Oborishte 5—is presenting the exclusive exhibition “Butterflies and Diamonds” in Burgas for the first time. The exhibition features a selection of works by some of the most significant figures in contemporary British art. It is an important part of the city’s cultural calendar and Burgas Municipality’s efforts to support its candidacy for European Capital of Culture.

The official opening will take place on 31 July 2026 at 6:30 p.m. at the Sea Casino Cultural Centre (Sea Garden, Burgas).

Residents and visitors will have the unique opportunity to experience an exceptional private collection from the gallery, featuring works by world-renowned artists—from Pop Art pioneer Sir Peter Blake to contemporary provocateur Damien Hirst.

The exhibition will be displayed in the Alexander Georgiev – Kodzhakafaliyata and Georgi Baev halls and will be open to the public from 1 to 31 August 2026, daily from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The exhibition includes works by Sir Peter Blake, Marc Quinn, Damien Hirst, and The Connor Brothers—artists who have played a defining role in shaping the international contemporary art scene over the past several decades. Although each artist has a distinctive visual language, the exhibition unites them through the symbolism of the butterfly and the diamond—motifs that appear throughout their work as metaphors for beauty, transformation, eternity, and the preciousness of life.

For the third consecutive year, DG Art Gallery and the Sea Casino Cultural Centre in Burgas are presenting a collector’s exhibition featuring internationally acclaimed artists. Following the success of previous exhibitions dedicated to 20th-century modernists—including Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, and others—as well as iconic representatives of American Pop Art and contemporary art such as Andy Warhol, Jim Dine, and Stephen Wilson, this year’s exhibition turns its focus to Great Britain, a country that has produced some of the most influential artists of our time.

About the Artists

Sir Peter Blake

Born in 1932, Sir Peter Blake is one of Britain’s most celebrated artists and a founding figure of Pop Art. He achieved worldwide recognition as the co-creator of the legendary album cover for The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967). Knighted in 2002, his works are held in leading museums around the world.

The exhibition features his Paris Suite, a collage-like visual diary inspired by Paris. The works combine vibrant colours, butterfly motifs, and references to pop culture icons such as Brigitte Bardot. Some pieces incorporate diamond dust, creating a luminous surface with a distinctive sparkle and magical reflection of light.

Marc Quinn

Born in 1964, Marc Quinn is a leading British contemporary artist and a key member of the influential Young British Artists (YBA) movement. His work explores the human body, identity, and the relationship between art and science. Among his best-known works is Self, a self-portrait sculpture made from his own frozen blood.

The exhibition focuses on his Landscapes series, in which nature, sunrises, and sunsets become symbols of life’s cycles and transformation. Another key theme is his monumental fingerprint works, enlarged into abstract compositions that serve as unique biological symbols of individuality, memory, and identity.

Damien Hirst

Born in 1965, Damien Hirst is one of the world’s best-known and most influential contemporary artists and a leading figure of the Young British Artists movement. His conceptual and provocative work explores themes of life, death, faith, and science through iconic pieces such as the shark preserved in formaldehyde and the diamond-encrusted skull.

The exhibition includes works from four of his most recognizable series:

  • The Empresses (2022) – large-scale kaleidoscopic compositions made from butterfly wings and red glitter, dedicated to five historical female rulers.
  • Spot Paintings – his signature coloured dot paintings exploring the relationship between order, science, and medicine.
  • The Sanctums – richly textured abstract relief works inspired by sacred architecture.
  • The New Religion – works combining scientific symbolism with religious iconography, examining modern humanity’s pursuit of immortality.

The Connor Brothers

The Connor Brothers is a British artistic duo consisting of James Golding and Mike Snelle. Internationally recognised for their distinctive style, they combine mid-20th-century vintage imagery with witty, ironic, and provocative text. Their work explores themes such as love, mental health, and social stereotypes, balancing elements of Pop Art and conceptual art.

The exhibition features works in which text is inseparable from the image. Drawing on the aesthetics of vintage advertisements and book covers, the artists create visual narratives and contemporary aphorisms. Their concise phrases humorously comment on human relationships while encouraging self-irony and personal interpretation.

About DG Art Gallery

DG Art Gallery is the newest project by Denitsa Atanasova-Gergova, established in 2026 as a natural continuation of more than 15 years of active work in modern and contemporary art. The gallery develops international exhibition projects, builds private and corporate collections, and creates cultural initiatives that connect Bulgarian audiences with leading names from the global art scene.

For more information, follow DG Art Gallery’s social media channels.