(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- The Alfa Art Gallery presents "Soul and Steel" from April 1 - May 30, 2026. This exhibition unites two master artists, Vesslin Kourtev and Vasil Nikov, working in a variety of mediums. While one excels at painting and the other at sculpture, they both bring their creations to life. This one-of-a-kind collaboration between these incredible artists redefines what art can signify.
Despite their difference in materials, Vesslin Kourtev and Vasil Nikov are consistently breaking traditional boxes. Through the blending of technical skill and impressionistic imagery, both artists integrate an essence of humanity in their works and a true resonance of skill and power is born. Their ethereal illusion combined with abstract forms generates a euphoric experience for any observer to appreciate.
There will be an in-person Opening Reception on Saturday, April 4, 2026 from 6:30pm to 9:30pm. Alfa Art Gallery is located at 108 Church Street in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Vasil Nikov - Born and raised in Bulgaria, He studied at the University of Veliko Turnovo, pursuing a master's in Visual Arts (1981-1985). From 1985 to 2001, he participated in various international sculpture symposia as well as a wide range of solo and group exhibitions. Much of his work of public art has been created in Quebec and abroad.
In 2001, He moved to Montreal, Canada, where he became a member of The Council of Sculpture of Quebec, a member of the art group QuatuorV, Montreal (2003), and a regular member of AQTIS (Alliance Quebec technicians of the image and sound). He also teaches sculpture at the Centre des loisirs de Montreal and various other prominent organizations in the Montreal art scene.
Nikov originally started his artistic journey as a visual artist in painting. Over time, his curiosity for experimenting with different means gradually led him to the realm of sculpting, in which he shares his new look at the environment and expresses his creative essence through the medium. Inspired by the desire to share the joy of creation, Nikov’s conceptual approach is based on the integration and intertwinement of sculptural art and the beauty of the surrounding space. Human beings, with their soul and passions, are at the very core of this environment.
Throughout his career, Nikov has experimented with different materials, but recently he has been working primarily with stainless steel, using the material’s durability and reflective qualities to interact with natural light and surrounding space.
Vesselin Kourtev was also born and raised in Bulgaria. He received his high school degree in fine art from the Fine Art School, Kazanluk, and an MFA degree from the Faculty of Fine Art at the University of Veliko Turnovo, Bulgaria.
From 1989 to 2002, he worked in the National School of Stage and Film Design, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
From 1975 until 2002, he actively participated in the artistic life in Stara Zagora, Kazanluk, and Plovdiv, Bulgaria, in a large number of national and international exhibitions and competitions.
In 2002, Vesselin moved to the United States. In 2007, he opened the Alfa Art Gallery in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Here, he continues to help promote emerging artists by helping them gain recognition in their community and abroad. Every year, he teaches “History of Art” at the International Art Lab in New Brunswick. Vesselin Kourtev’s work is part of 34 independent and 15 collective exhibitions in Bulgaria, the USA, the Czech Republic, Greece, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and elsewhere. His works are owned by many galleries and private collections in countries including Bulgaria, Germany, France, the USA, Malta, Greece, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Turkey, and others.
From 2008 onwards, Vesselin Kourtev has been the Art Director and Resident Artist of the Alfa Art Gallery.
Currently, he is working on oil and watercolor paintings and collages in which he layers abstraction to express emotional and philosophical ideas.
Two artists, working in different mediums yet united by a shared foundation, come together for this exhibition to present their distinct artistic voices. Both studied at the same university, where their creative journeys first intersected. Now reunited, they bring painting and sculpture into dialogue, showcasing their individual philosophies and talents while exploring form, material, and the enduring value of the human spirit. Through this exhibition, their works reflect both their shared beginnings and the unique paths they have taken in their respective practices.
The gallery thanks their sponsors— Johnson & Johnson, Merck Pharmaceutical, Magyar Bank, Amboy Bank, New Brunswick City Center, Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission, The Bank of Princeton, and GSK.
