Ivan Gantschev. Retrospective
December 4, 2025 to April 19, 2026
Exhibition celebrating the 100th birthday anniversary of the German-Bulgarian children’s book illustrator and Author
Ivan Gantschev, born in Bulgaria in 1925, studied at the Academy of Arts in Sofia. In 1967, he moved to West Germany, where he illustrated his first children’s book for the Japanese publisher Gakken in 1973. His preferred medium was watercolor, later adding acrylic. He wrote most of the stories for his books himself. They always feature animals and also people who interact with the animals. They deal with good and evil, nature, respect for nature, and friendship.
One of his favorite books was “Der Mondsee” (The Moon Lake), for which he received the City of Vienna Illustration Award. His virtuoso skills have brought him worldwide recognition, his books have been published in many countries, and his originals have been exhibited internationally. With his wife Rosemarie and his cat Wanja he lived in Frankfurt until his death in 2014.
