Gallery ONE opened its doors in 2015 as a private gallery for contemporary art, focusing on curatorial practices and showcasing Bulgarian contemporary art alongside established and emerging artists from around the world. On November 28, 2017, the gallery expanded with a second exhibition space at the corner of Ivan Vazov Street and 6th September Street in Sofia. The gallery's space, located in a 20th-century building in the heart of Sofia, was designed by architect Georgi Ovcharov and restored by CONA architects.

 

On June 27, 2023, the gallery further expanded its activities by opening a new location at 1 Dyakon Ignatiy Street in Sofia, in a historically significant space - the old Bulgaria café from the early 20th century, spanning 300 square meters over two floors.

 

Gallery ONE's mission is to identify, present, and develop ideas reflecting global issues through art and various approaches, as well as to popularize and establish artistic directions beyond national boundaries and group interests. The gallery's efforts are aimed at affirming freedom in art as a supreme value.

 

Over the years, Gallery ONE has built its collection of contemporary art, continuously enriching it. The gallery has organized numerous solo and group exhibitions with both Bulgarian and international participation from countries such as the USA, Russia, Israel, France, Austria, Serbia, North Macedonia, Scotland, Germany, and many others.

 

Gallery ONE has hosted various festivals and initiatives such as the Sofia Paper Festival, the "White Rabbit" festival, the International Month of Photography, the European Night of Museums, the Water Tower residency program, and the Bună-Varna festival.

 

The gallery takes pride in its network of sustainable cross-sector partnerships, collaborating with organizations such as the National Art Gallery, Sofia City Art Gallery, Vaska Emanouilova Gallery, National Academy of Art, National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts, Sofia Municipality Culture Program, America for Bulgaria Foundation, MUZIS Foundation, French Institute in Bulgaria, Single Step Foundation, DA Lab Foundation, and many others.

 

International partnerships include collaborations with the Contemporary Art Fund - Loire Valley, France; the National Gallery, North Macedonia; the Guarini Foundation and the Saint-Matthias Foundation, Berlin; Saché Saché, London.

 

Gallery ONE supports Bulgarian contemporary art by participating in international art exhibitions such as Contemporary Istanbul in 2015, Cosmoscow in Moscow in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018, Vienna Contemporary in 2019 and 2020.

 

As an independent cultural space, Gallery ONE's main goal is to present socially engaged art free from censorship, both locally and internationally through partnerships. The gallery's team identifies and develops ideas that reflect globally significant issues, providing a public platform for established and young artists with distinguished and original approaches.