Pencho Balkanski

Pencho Todorov Balkanski (1908–1985) was a Bulgarian photographer, painter, and graphic artist. He was born on January 26, 1908, in the village of Lomec, in the Troyan region. He learned photography from his brother Minko and later trained under photographer Boris Blaskov in Sofia.

He held his first exhibition in 1930 and founded the "Luna" photo studio. He organized exhibitions in Bulgaria and abroad and created portraits of many famous individuals. He also worked on several Bulgarian and Yugoslav films.

From the mid-1940s, he turned his focus toward graphic arts and color lithography. His works are preserved in the National Art Gallery, the Sofia City Art Gallery, and other collections. Among his most famous works are the cycles "April Uprising" and "Liberation of Bulgaria," as well as "Rayna Knyaginya" and "Troyan Wedding."

He was a recipient of silver medals from art exhibitions and the Order of "Cyril and Methodius," 1st degree (1968). He died in Sofia on December 1, 1985.