Ignat Konstantinov of Konkon, Artist Discussion at The Arts Center of Montross

Ignat Konstantinov (often working alongside his partner Konstantina, together known as “the KonKons”) is a Bulgarian‑born American mixed‑media and abstract artist.

Biography & Partnership

• Bulgarian roots & formal training: Both Ignat and Konstantina were born in Bulgaria; they studied at the prestigious National (Bulgarian) Academy of Fine Arts in Sofia. 

• Creative partnership: Married and based in Virginia, they operate as a dynamic duo—KonKons—equally contributing to painting, graphic design, and teaching. Their studio is a hub of mixed‑media innovation .

Signature Styles & Themes

• Mixed-media exploration: Known for including unconventional elements like sails, found objects, personal artifacts, and textured materials—resulting in multi-layered, tactile paintings in large triptych and canvas formats .

• Thematic breadth:

  • Spiritual iconography: Works like Stations of the Cross highlight sacred narratives .

  • Female heroism: Their show “Soul of a Knight” spotlighted powerful women figures—Joan of Arc, Rani Laxmibai—melding portraiture with textured storytelling.

  • Landscape & abstract expression: Exhibits like “Terra Incognita” feature rust-like textures and layered colors—evoking uncharted worlds

Notable Exhibitions & Lectures

“Soul of a Knight” (2020) at Artspace Gallery, Richmond: a moving tribute by Konstantina devoted to women's resilience, featuring her own portrait integrated into iconic historical narratives “Infinity and the Unbound” at Agora Gallery, Chelsea, NY (July 2021): a focused showcase by the duo on abstraction and thematic exploration.

Montross Artist Talks: Ignat recently spoke about wind, nature’s power, and material interplay at The Arts Center of Montross. See video above.