BIOGRAPHY

Martina Deneva – Venkova is an exhibition designer and a museum researcher. She gained her experience in design studios in Italy and Bulgaria and she also worked as an in-house designer in the Museum of Humor and Satire and Museum ETAR in Gabrovo. In 2018 Martina started her own practice designing permanent exhibitions, temporary and travelling shows as well as souvenir shops. In 2020 she joined a PhD program at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences to investigate the role of exhibition design in constructing museum narratives. The aim of the scientific research is creating a handbook with good practices and professional standards in the field of exhibition design. Her broader interests are related to the community activization in smaller cities as well as the preservation of public and cultural spaces in Bulgaria.

Martina Deneva – Venkova was born in Gabrovo in 1988 where she lives and works currently. 

EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION

AWARDS

  • Grazia Woman of the Year – Nominee in the Art Category (2022)
  • Darik 40 Under 40 – Award in the Culture and Art Category (2022)
  • Milano Design Award with the team of ELIGO STUDIO / SEGNO ITALIANO (2015)
  • Full academic scholarship – ALTA SCUOLA POLITECNICA (2012 – 2015)
  • Full academic scholarship – (2012 – 2015)
  • Full academic scholarship – NEW BULGARIAN UNIVERSITY (2007 – 2011)

SELECTED CLIENTS

  • National Ethnology Museum
  • National Museum of Natural History
  • Regional History Museum Gabrovo
  • History Museum Popovo
  • History Museum Chiprovtsi
  • History Museum Pavlikeni
  • History Museum Dryanovo
  • Paleontological Museum Asenovgrad
  • Museum of Humor and Satire
  • Museum ETAR
  • IKEA
  • CLAIM COMPASS
  • SKAPTO
  • Economedia AD

PRESS / EVENTS

LECTURES / REPORTS / ARTICLES

  • One exhibition and its three curators – Article in the Bulletin of the Union of Bulgarian Artists on occasion of the exhibition “Who is Sava Popov?” at the Museum of Humor and Satire (2023)
  • Museum exhibitions as a bridge between content and audience – Lecture at the event “Every second Tuesday” organized by IBCT – BAS (2022)
  • The visual narrative within the exhibition halls of the Museum of Folk Arts and Crafts – Article in the publication “Museum Magazine” published by the MFAC – Tryavna (2022)
  • Documentary research and preparation of the permanent exhibition “How Gabrovo became the Capital of Humor” – Report at the scientific conference with international participation “Bulgarian Laughter” organized by IL – BAS (2021)
  • Exhibition design project and interactive elements in the temporary exhibition “Pathways to the Table” – Article in the periodical magazine “Monuments. Restoration. Museums ” published by ARH & ART Publishing House (2021)
  • The popular entertainment as a bridge to the art – Article in the issue “Good practices 2021. Contemporary trends and problems in the activities of Bulgarian museums and art galleries” published by RAM – Plovdiv (2021)
  • The role of external specialists in the development of innovative and engaging exhibitions in Bulgarian museums – Report at the round table “Exhibition Design and Creative Industries”, organized by the New Bulgarian University (2020)