About
My name is Kaloian Toshev MZK.
I'm an Artist, Illustrator & Designer on a mission to bring more beauty to the world.
I'm passionate about female beauty and expressing it through digital art. Aesthetics in design and in general. And technologies and the way they impact art. Co-founder of several startups. I'm also into extreme sports, actively practising snowboarding, motocross, kitesurf and martial arts (Ving Tsun).
kaloian@mzkmzk.com / +359 876 8 31337
1986
Born 1986 in Bulgaria, I've started drawing at very early age and to this day, I've never stopped.
2004
I bought my first graphic tablet and discovered the unlimited universe of digital art. It was the intersection of two of my favorite things: technology and art, so I quickly fell inlove.
2005 The Beginning
I got featured on DeviantArt, the biggest digital art community at that time. This was huge success for me and helped me realise that people actually like what I do. At that moment there I decided digital art is something I'll do in life. Best decision ever.
2006 - 2009
Studied at two universities, dropped out of both of them. I studied Visual Arts in The National Academy of Arts in Sofia, but soon after I've dropped out of boredom, since it wasn't what I expecting. Then got accepted to study Architecture, but quickly realised that what I really want is to draw and design, so dropped out of that as well.
2010 Vector to Raster
Around that time I've switched from vector to raster. I had a big passion for vector graphics but they were lacking the expression of the line and the ability to get really messy while drawing. This is why I began experimenting with raster digital art. I was immediately hooked and made the switch.
2011
Around 2011 I've began working for digital agencies, then quit and never looked back. Working for agencies is OK, but they were draining my energy, since most of the times the whole environment was very tense, due to the always short deadlines.
2012 Wacom®
After that I've started working for product companies. Working on a single product turns out to be so much better. There is no pressure and the reward and satisfaction are much greater. I've learned so much at Wacom and my work has been seen by millions of users.
2013 Solo Exhibition
First solo exhibition. The exhibition was covered by all major culture and art media in Bulgaria and more than 1000 people attended it on the opening day. It was held in VIVACOM arthall, one of the biggest galleries in Sofia at that time and was gallery's most successful exhibition in terms of visitors. It was one of the best experiences I've had in my life. More photos here.
2013 Focus on clients
Numerous brand collaborations from 2013 to 2021. I've collaborated with various big and small brands. I've designed cans, bottles, snowboards, longboards, all kinds of clothing, and so on, even wrapped a building while under construction.
2014 Enhancv
In 2014 I joined Enhancv and played huge role in making it the world's best online resume builder. I was responsible for the brand, product UI & UX, as well as the resume design. While working there, Enhancv became the most desired resume format out there. Mark Cuban said it's amazing. His post generated 87k likes and 4k comments, making Marissa Mayer's resume the most popular in the world.
2018 NobleHire & Lena-Lena
4 years later I've quit Enhancv and co-founded Noble Hire and Lena-Lena. With Noble Hire I continued my mission to help professionals find the right company for them. Lena-Lena is s a passion project that creates luxurious hand-made lingerie.
2019 Commissions
Started drawing portraits for commissions, but quit soon after. Definetly not my thing. Honestly, I hated it. So I quit and decided that if I ever draw a portrait again, it would be because I want to, not because someone paid me to. So if you ask me to draw you girlfriend I probably won't do it, sorry.
2021 NFTs
In the beginning of 2021 I've discovered NFTs and it instantly made so much sense! I'm convinced NFTs are what's been missing in digital art all those years. Also this again combines my two biggest passions - technology and art. I believe NFTs are here to stay and great times await all digital creators!
2021 Genesis Drop
Made my Genesis drop on Foundation in April 2021 and sold it in two days. Shortly after I discovered NFTs I knew I had to join the fun. Thankfully I've got a special series I've been preparing for a physical exhibition that didn't happened because of covid, so I've dropped as my first NFT collection. I made big fuzz about it and manage to impress some of the most influencial collectors in the space. My works are collected by CryptoJack, BEN, Norcal Guy, Anson Lau, Mrrichb to name a few.
2021 CoinGecko & PlayingArts
CoinGecko invited me to become their #2 Spotlight artist. Working with CoinGecko, one of the major players in the space, on a collaborative drop was an awesome experience and a great oportunity. We've created two NFTs one sold on my profile in FND and the other as POPA on CoinGecko website. Read more here.
Got invited in PlayingArts Crypto alongside the best digital artists in the world. PlayingArts launched an NFT collection and invited me to create 10 of Hearths. This was a big honor for me, because I had the chance to see my name next to some of the best artists I know. The artist was sold our pretty fast and collected by all the major players in the space. View it here.
Got invited on numerous interviews, podcasts and shows to talk about NFTs. I was live on Bulgarian National Television, National Radio, different podcasts and gave many other interviews.
2021 Sublimes
Co-created and sold out Sublimes, a collection fo 1111 abstract queens. Teamed up with the twitter influencer WorldofNfts to create a project that helps artists and creators in the space.
2022
In 2022 I got invited on SuperRare. They possitioned themself as the go-to place for the best digital artists in the NFT world. Needles to say that I was super happy I got invited to join SR family. Great times awaits.
2023
I was invited as an Official Artist of NFT.NYC 2023, the biggest NFT event in the world held in central Manhattan New York. I also got into Ordinals and I'm among the first people in the world to create art on bitcoin Ordinals.
Featured on
Juxtapoz.com, Formfiftyfive.com, Designyoutrust.com, Deviantart.com, Coingecko.com, Awwwards.com, Behance.net, trendland.com, Illustration Served, Typography Served, Branding Served and more...
Exhibitions
2023, NFT.NYC / Official artist / Group Exhibition, New York
2023, Real thoughts Mecenate Fine Art / Group Exhibition, Rome
2023, NFT Factory / Group Exhibition, Paris
2023, Mint for change, FAIR.xyz / Group Exhibition, Online
2023, The line, mintface / Group Exhibition, Online
2023, St. Valentine's Day by Goat Studio / Group Exhibition, Toronto
2022, betaverse / Group Exhibition, Sofia
2022, Bulgaria Greatest Poets / Group Exhibition, Geo Milev Park, Sofia
2022, Make WART, Buy art to support Ukraine / Group Exhibition, Boulevart 138, Sofia
2021, Decentralend / Group Exhibition, Online
2018, The Tote Exhibition / Group Exhibition, BOLD Showroom, Sofia
2018, Night Market III / Group Exhibition, NDK, Sofia
2017, Pop-up mini exhibition / Solo exhibition, Enhancv office
2016, Alphabets Exhibition / Group Exhibition, Council of Europe, Strasbourg
2016, August Illustrated / Group Exhibition, VIVACOM ArtHall, Sofia
2016, Audi Q2 #untaggablexhibition / Group Exhibition, National Academy of Arts, Sofia
2016, Nomads People's Evolutuon / Group Exhibition, Sofia Museum of History
2015, Night Market II / Group Exhibition, Polygraphia Sofia
2015, The Tote / Group Exhibition, SOHO Sofia
2014, Plakat Kombinat — Favourite City / Group Exhibition, Bulgarian Cultural Institute, London
2014, TEDxBG Exhibition / Group Exhibition, Bulgaria Hall Sofia
2014, The Tote / Group Exhibition, betahause Sofia
2013, Desire / Solo exhibition, VIVACOM@ArtHall Sofia
2013, U-lica Birthday / Group Exhibition, Memento NDK Sofia
2012, Sofia Design Week / Group Exhibition, Fabrica 126 Sofia
2011, Computer Space Exhibition / Group Exhibition, Lover's Bridge Sofia
2009, Sofia Design Week - Master Remastered / Group Exhibition, Goethe-Institut Sofia
2009, Sofia Architecture Week - Vitoshka 46-34 / Group Exhibition, Soviet Army Monument Sofia
2009, Help for Evgeni / Group Exhibition, The Fridge Sofia
2006, School Exhibition / Group Exhibition, Shipka 6 Sofia
Talks
2023, Sreda.bg / AI & Creativity debate
2022, Design of Things / Watch
2022, TEDx Vitosha / Watch
2022, 042 NFT / Online
2021, Bulgarian National Television / 100% Budni / Watch
2021, Radio Sofia, BNR / Sofia
2021, PlayingArts Podcast / Online / Watch
2021, SoftUni Creative / Online / Watch
2021, Svrah Choveka / Online / Watch
2021, GeckoCon NFTs Gone Wild / Online / Website
2021, NFT Malayali / Online
2021, BDG #90 / Bulgarian Design Group / Website
2021, TokenSmart / Discord Server / Online
2017, Behance Portfolio Review Bulgaria #5 / Sofia, Raster Minds / Varna
2013, BDG #4 / Betahaus Sofia
Publications
2022, Playing Arts Crypto / www.playingarts.com
2021, Thank you Cards / intertypestudio.com
2018, Amica® Bulgaria / Lena-Lena Project
2017, Take Away Give Away / FourPlus & Studio Komplekt
2016, Playing Arts Special Edition Pack / www.playingarts.com
2015, Infine Collisions Card Deck / infinitecollision.com
2014, Mo Chroi / Marin Millar
2014, Illustration Now! 4 Tear off Calendar 2014 / Taschen
2013, Illustration Now! 4 Calendar 2013 / Taschen
2012, 52 Aces - Limited card deck / Zeixs
2012, Illustration Now! 4 Book / Taschen
2012, Illustration 2 / Zeixs
2011, Logo Talks / Art Power
2009, 1000 Fonts / Chronicle Books
2009, Book of the year Vol. 2 / The Design And Design
2009, 2EDGED Magazine / 2EDGED
2009, Capital Light® Magazine / Economedia (BG)
2009, Edno Magazine / Edno (BG)
Experience
2004 - Present / Artist & illustrator
2022 - Present / 10AM Labs. Disruptive crypto cooperative
2020 - Present / Awera. Personal productivity and awereness app.
2018 - Present / NobleHire, Founder & Design director. Referal based hiring platform.
2013 - 2019 / Lena-Lena, Co-Founder & Art director. Handmade lingerie made in Bulgaria.
2014 - 2017 / Enhancv, Art director & Product designer. Creating next level tools for building the resume of the future.
2012 - 2014 / Wacom®, UI/UX designer and Inhouse illustrator.
2008 - 2011 / NuFabric, Co-Founder & Illustrator. A creative collective project with Dimo Trifonov & Nikolay Vanchev.
2007 - 2012 / RIZN Communication Design, Senior Graphic & Web designer. The best Bulgarian web agency at that time.
2003 - 2007 / Studio PLAKAT, Junior graphic designer & DTP
