Artist Biography:

Nikola Smilkov was born in Štip, N. Macedonia. He attended the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University "Ss. Cyril and Methodius" in Skopje, where he graduated and earned a Master's in sculpture in 2002, studying under Prof. Dragan Poposki Dada. In 2012, he received his PhD from the Faculty of Education at the University "St. Kliment Ohridski" in Bitola, specializing in Methods of Art Teaching. He is a full professor of Methods of Art Teaching and Sculpture at the University Goce Delčev in Štip, N. Macedonia.

Smilkov is an active member of the Association of Fine Artists of Macedonia (DLUM) and has been the president of its assembly since 2023.

Solo Exhibitions:

• 2022: "A Gaze at the Sky," Mestrovic Art Gallery, Split, Croatia.

• 2022: "Emotions," Modern Gallery "Jovo Ivanović," Budva, Montenegro.

• 2021: "Emotional Movements," Alliance Française, Croatian-French Association, Split, Croatia.

• 2018: "Smilkov Skulpturen," Prima Centre, Berlin, Germany.

• 2016: "Conversations," Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris, France.

Group Exhibitions:

• 2022: Biennial of Contemporary Art, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

• 2022: IX International Art Biennale, National Museum of China, Beijing, China.

• 2021: First International Visual Arts Biennale, Bandirma Onyedi Eylul University, Balikesir, Turkey.

• 2018: Symposium and Memorial "Reviving Humanity," WYF, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

Awards:

• 2021: Award for Sculpture and Grand Prix of the International Biennale of Nude "Marko Krstov Gregović," Montenegro.