Borya Shapshalova aka BoryaXYZ
Artist CV and Bio
Borya Shapshalova aka BoryaXYZ (b. 1989, Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria) is a contemporary intermedia artist based in Sofia who works primarily in abstract digital painting, metaverse architecture, and sculpture. Her practice investigates the hidden determinants of human behavior and consciousness, exploring how various constraints—societal, self-imposed, corporate, and familial—affect our intrinsic nature. Through her work, Shapshalova examines the distortion and obscuring of the innate human nature by external and internal forces. In her abstract digital paintings, Shapshalova employs the unique affordances of digital art — iteration, procedural generation, and manipulation beyond physical limitations. Her technique combines layering, transparency, and dimensional play with heavily altered elements, revealing hidden perceptual structures that mirror complex world systems. BoryaXYZ is best known for her metaverse environments that invite playful exploration of digital realms, alternative communication technologies, and the native curation and experience of digital art.
Shapshalova's artistic journey progressed from traditional figurative prints and drawings to performing arts, and since 2016, to digital creation where flesh and code intertwine. Her current post-motherhood work focuses on expressive abstractions that embody spirit directly. Notable projects include the BODY AUTONOMY Series (2025-onwards) pursuing pure abstraction with pinks, purples and teals; the LineMAT Series (2021-2023) exploring audio-reactive generative art with programmed 3D scans; and the Metaverse Architecture Series (2022-2023) creating freely accessible virtual environments through collaborative curation to natively exhibit digital art.
Shapshalova's work has gained recognition through various exhibitions and residencies. She has participated in the VCA Residency's 2nd Cohort and presented her work in the YouTopia exhibition, curated by Micol Ap at Elsewhere Art Gallery in both London and New York in 2023. Her digital work has been featured in the official curated selections of ETHBudapest 2025, NFT Paris 2023, NFT Liverpool 2022 and at PROOF OF PEOPLE London, and she has contributed to (Re)configuring Territories at Narva Art Residency. Notable solo presentations include the ‘Placenta’ show and the ‘AeonMapping1.0’ performance, with her works held in various private collections both nationally and internationally.
Education
2009-2014: MArch in Architecture, Spec.Urban Planning, UACEG, Sofia, Bulgaria
2008-2009: Architecture Foundation, Varna Free University, Varna, Bulgaria
2003-2008: Diploma in Fine Art, Spec.Printmaking, National Humanitarian High School, Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
Selected solo exhibitions
2021, Alternatives,Moshtanska Kushta Gallery, Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
2019, RESIDENT ALIEN, MOVE.BG, Sofia, Bulgaria
2017, AeonMapping1.0, Atelieto, Sofia, Bulgaria
2012, Placenta, Lubimo Gallery, Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
Selected group exhibitions
(Forthcoming) 2025, MADE IN LESHTEN Vol.5, Little Bird Place, Sofia, Bulgaria
2025, Curated Exhibition of Digital Art at ETHBucharest, Biblioteca Naţională a României, Bucharest, Romania
2023, YouTopia, Elsewhere (The NFT Gallery), London, United Kingdom and New York, USA
2023, NFT Paris Official Curation, Grand Palais, Paris, France
2022, Enter the Betaverse, betahaus, Sofia, Bulgaria
2022, PROOF OF PEOPLE, fabric, London, United Kingdom
2022, NFT Liverpool Official Selection, Adelia Art Gallery, Liverpool, United Kingdom
2022, VerticalCryptoArt Residency Auction + Exhibition, The Metaverse [link]
2019, (Re)configuring Territories, Narva Art Residency, Narva, Estonia
2018, Коледни бъркотии, Sabai Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria
2018, Puppyish & Friends, City Gallery, Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
2015, EXPERIMENTO, 13th IN THE PALACE International Short Film Festival, Sofia, Bulgaria
2014, theHARD+theSOFT, Vitosha Boulevard, Sofia, Bulgaria
2014, Subway Station No. 22, Vitosha Boulevard, Sofia, Bulgaria
2013, Wrappings, Vlaykova Cinema, Sofia, Bulgaria
2012, Kuki Wonderland, Suvilahti Cultural Center, Helsinki, Finland
2008, Annual Graduation Show, Blagoevgrad City Gallery, Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
2007, Jeanne, Geo Milev Theater, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
2006, Soul of a Violin, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
2005, Occasion for Murder, Blagoevgrad, Kavarna and Plovdiv Bulgaria
Selected collections
The Edicurial Collection
Varna Free University Art Collection
Borya Shapshalova is collected by private collectors in Bulgaria, Spain and USA.
Awards
2018, B-School Scholarship (winner), Marie Forleo Foundation, New York, USA
2015, 48h Sofia Film Challenge (winning team), IN THE PALACE International Short Film Festival, Sofia,Bulgaria
2012, EASA Wastelands Open Call (selected), EASA, Helsinki, Finland
Residencies
2025, MADE IN LESHTEN Vol.5, Leshten, Bulgaria
2021-2022, VCA Residency Cohort 2, VerticalCrypto Art, The Metaverse
2019, (Re)configuring Territories, Narva Art Residency, Narva, Estonia
Selected press
Filipa Ivanova Ognianova, “Професия: NFT артист - Работи в бъдещето” (‘Profession: NFT Artist - Working in the Future’) interview for Bulgarian National Television (2022) [link].
Mircho Hristov, “Творческият колектив „На улицата“ отвори темата за дигиталните изкуства в града на липите” (‘The creative collective "On the Street" opened the topic of digital arts in the city of linden trees’) in dolap.bg (2022) [link] .
Ricko Leung, “From Cryptopunk to Crypto Patron” in Larry’s List (2022) [link] .
Harry Martin, “VerticalCrypto Art presents: Fundraising Auction Event for NFT-native Residency Program — on Wednesday, January 19th 2022” in Medium (2022) [link].
Harry Martin, “VerticalCrypto Art Roundup: Saturday — January 22nd 2022” in Medium (year) [link] .
Antoniya Kamenichka, “Боря Шапшалова - архитектът, чието призвание е да бъде ковач на бижута” (‘Borya Shapshalova - the architect whose calling is to be a jewelry blacksmith’) in Bulgarian National Radio, 2020 [link]
Unknown, “︎Интервю’ (‘Interview”) in Gradat Media Group, 2014 [link].
Bibliography
Vanity Fair Autumn Campaign, Condé Nast, 2018 [link]
Johana Blanc, ‘For reasons that can go from dramaturgical to technical’ , Luxembourg, 2017 [link]
Borya Shapshalova, ‘Commercial Centers as a new public space’ , article,TheCity Weekly, 2014
Borya Shapshalova, ‘Office Space Solutions inspired by the employees’, article,TheCity Weekly, 2014
Borya Shapshalova, ‘Contemporary challenges in erecting office buildings’ , article,TheCity Weekly, 2014
Borya Shapshalova, ‘Façade Engineering’ , article,TheCity Weekly, 2014
Professional contributions
2022-2023: Mentor, VCA Residency, Online and in the Metaverse
2022-2023: Project Manager (execution of exhibitions, auctions and other art-related events and activities), VerticalCrypto Art, remote and on-site in London, United Kingdom, and Paris, France
2015: Leader, Summer Art Education Camps for Children, Vietnam
2013: Instructor, Contemporary Dance Workshop ‘Breath and Sound in the Context of Touch’, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
contact
cv and bio
PORTFOLIO OF SELECTED RECENT WORKS
Last edit: April 2025