NMMU: Where does your love for art comes from?
Gueorgui Vassilev: It’s not something rational—it’s purely emotional. That’s why it’s difficult to pinpoint a specific time or place when it started. It’s the result of a lifelong accumulation of experiences and personal struggles.
NMMU: Were you friends with any of the artists whose works you own?
Gueorgui Vassilev: Unfortunately, I didn’t have the chance to meet most of them during their lifetimes. But I try to make up for that now by visiting and supporting young artists whenever I can.
NMMU: What was the first artwork you acquired for your collection? Is there an interesting story behind it? And how did your collection develop from there?
Gueorgui Vassilev: I began collecting around 25–30 years ago, initially acquiring works by Bulgarian contemporary artists who explored the world in a more abstract way. At that time, I didn’t have a clearly defined concept for a collection. Everything changed when I discovered a notice about a retrospective exhibition of Georges Papazoff in a private gallery in Paris. I immediately went there, but unfortunately, I arrived too late—the exhibition had already ended. I peered through the window and saw the gallerist inside, so I knocked. To cut a long story short, there was only one unsold painting left in the gallery—it hadn’t been purchased because it didn’t have a frame. I fell in love with it and bought it. Since then, I’ve been regularly attending exhibitions and international auctions around the world.
NMMU: Which artists are represented in your collection, and which art historical periods or movements does it cover?
Gueorgui Vassilev: From the modernist period, I focus on Papazoff and artists associated with the École de Paris, such as André Derain, Jules Pascin, and Man Ray. From the contemporary scene, I’m particularly interested in Christo, Liuba Boyadjieva-Wolf, Ivan Georgiev–Rembranda, Dimitar Kazakov, among others.
NMMU: Where does your interest in Papazoff’s art come from? Are you also familiar with his writings, and do you own any?
Gueorgui Vassilev: I feel a deep personal and intellectual connection to Papazoff’s creative energy. He came from a small town in rural Bulgaria and rose to prominence on the European art scene. In many ways, I relate to his journey. He remained connected to his roots, returning to Bulgaria for exhibitions, lectures, and articles. Papazoff was exceptionally gifted—not only as a painter, but also as a writer. I own all his books and have invested in translating and publishing his autobiography (originally written in French) into Bulgarian.
NMMU: When did you move to Switzerland, and what were your first days like there? Was it difficult at the beginning—especially finding your place in the Swiss collectors’ scene?
Gueorgui Vassilev: I moved to Switzerland to further my education in finance and law. I’m deeply grateful to the city of Geneva and its cosmopolitan spirit—it gave me the freedom and support to reach my academic goals and begin my professional career. Collectors are often solitary by nature; we mostly communicate with art historians, curators, gallerists, and auction houses.
NMMU: You support the younger generation of artists in developing their careers—how do you discover the most talented among them?
Gueorgui Vassilev: I rely on my personal sense of aesthetic values, but when it comes to building a collection of emerging artists, I also trust the expertise of curators, gallerists, and art historians.
NMMU: Is there a particular artwork you would love to own but that has never come up at auction?
Gueorgui Vassilev: Oh, there are many. But one must always balance ambition with available resources.
NMMU: Besides your passion for fine art, do you have any other—perhaps for watches or cars?
Gueorgui Vassilev: No, I’m not interested in superficial displays of success. What matters more to me are the meaningful projects I’ve brought to life.
NMMU: Have you ever created any art yourself? Or is it something you’d like to try?
Gueorgui Vassilev: No. My role is to admire and support art—and that’s where I feel most fulfilled.
Interviewed by Lana Šetka © National Museum of Modern Art, Zagreb
Photo: (1, 2) Collector Gueorgui Vassilev during the setup of the Georges Papazoff exhibition from his collection at the Josip Račić Gallery in Zagreb. / From the archive of the National Museum of Modern Art, Zagreb
(3) Collector Gueorgui Vassilev and the Maria Vassileva, curator of the exhibition Georges Papazoff – From the Gueorgui Vassilev Collection – 90 Years Later during the exhibition setup at the Josip Račić Gallery in Zagreb. / Photo : From the archives of the National Museum of Modern Art, Zagreb