DOT Sofia Art Collection and the KOMAT restaurant in partnership with Sarieva/Gallery invite you to an intimate art dinner with the Bulgarian-French artist Stefan Nikolaev. This exclusive event, BLACK DOTS, will take place on June 13 and will feature a seven-course menu with limited seating for 30 guests. On request, guests will be able to purchase a limited edition of Nikolaev's eponymous artwork, BLACK DOTS - a porcelain cast of his hand in which black caviar will be served during the dinner.
This intimate gastronomic event is a rare opportunity to experience the talent of this internationally recognized artist firsthand. Excellent taste and aesthetics will come together in a 7-course menu created by the team at the KOMAT restaurant for this special occasion. At the end of the evening, guests will be able to take home a work of art: a limited, signed edition of 100 copies of Stefan Nikolaev's BLACK DOTS. BLACK DOTS is a cast of the artist's hand that symbolizes splendor, new beginnings, and life's treasures — all in one handful. A handful of caviar.
Sharing a table with an artist is a privilege, but being fed from their hand is an intimate gesture of trust that transcends the gallery walls.
The work of Bulgarian-French artist Stefan Nikolaev strikes a delicate balance between high culture and materialism in contemporary society. He transforms his pieces into objects of desire, captivating us with a liminal sense of personal freedom and inescapable dependence. Through this playful yet conceptually precise approach, Nikolaev invites us to reconsider our perception of art—challenging us to navigate the tension between its public cultural value and our personal longing to possess it,” says Veselina Sariyeva, curator of the DOT Sofia Art Collection.
The evening will begin with a presentation of Nikolaev’s work BLACK DOTS, followed by a welcome drink and black caviar. Guests will also have the opportunity to explore the DOT Sofia Art Collection - a private collection of contemporary Bulgarian art, which includes iconic works by Stefan Nikolaev.
Guests will then be seated in the KOMAT Restaurant, where a seven-course art dinner will be served after 8 p.m. Chef Todor Grablev will guide guests through the restaurant’s culinary masterpieces. This intimate dinner with Stefan Nikolaev promises to show that true taste—both artistic and gastronomic—can ignite inspiring conversations. Each table will feature BLACK DOTS, a touch of caviar, and memories to take home.
Special BLACK DOTS Signature Menu
1. Welcome: Sturgeon caviar & amuse-bouche — Tarator
2. Cold Appetizer: Tomatoes & green cheese
3. Warm Starter: Shopska-style cheese
4. Main Course I: Chicken leg with pistachios
5. Main Course II: Fish, mussels & veal jus
6. Pre-Dessert: Beetroot & raspberries
7. Dessert: Eggplant, black sesame & rosehip
All dishes will be paired with a curated selection of white wines.
Price:
- 7-course dinner including wine pairing: 300 BGN per person
- Artwork BLACK DOTS (2025) by Stefan Nikolaev — a limited-edition (100, numbered) piece especially crafted for the event: 300 BGN (optional)
For reservations, please contact Restaurant Komat at +359 888 117 113.
This event is organized in partnership with Sarieva Gallery.
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Who is Stefan Nikolaev
Stefan Nikolaev was born in Sofia in 1970 and currently lives and works between Paris and Sofia. He studied at the Art School in Sofia, the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, and the Winchester School of Art in England.
Nikolaev's work has been presented in numerous solo exhibitions at renowned galleries and institutions. He represented Bulgaria at the 2007 Venice Biennale and has participated in several major international biennials, including those in Guangzhou, South Korea, and Lyon.
His work is part of prominent private and public collections, including K11 MUSEA (Hong Kong), Museum Voorlinden (Wassenaar, the Netherlands), the Vehbi Koç Foundation (Istanbul), and the Centre de Création Contemporaine Olivier Debré (CCOD) in Tours, France.
Nikolaev has also exhibited at major international art fairs such as Art Basel and FIAC. In 2004, he was awarded the UNESCO Art Prize at the Cetinje Biennale.
Artistic Evenings Etched in History
"Beauty will be edible, or it will not be at all," declared Salvador Dalí—a passionate gastronome whose legacy extends far beyond his striking appearance and surrealist art. He was known for his provocative gestures, such as arriving at a press conference with a 12-meter baguette slung over his shoulder.
Long before that, the salons of Gertrude Stein in early 20th-century Paris served as fertile ground for revolutionary ideas. Picasso, Matisse, Gris, and Apollinaire gathered to share wine, thoughts, and visions—giving rise to transformative movements like Cubism and Surrealism.
Similarly, the Bauhaus evenings in Weimar and Dessau brought together minds like Klee and Kandinsky, blending art, music, and experimentation in a vibrant social setting.
Dalí and Gala, too, masterfully fused gastronomy and performance, crafting dishes named after surrealist works. These were nights where food became an extension of art itself.
In more recent times, Marina Abramović redefined this concept with her "Spirit Cooking", turning gastronomy into ritual. Here, food carries symbolism and poetry, and guests become active participants in the experience.
These artistic evenings—rich with meaning, flavor, and dialogue—remain etched in cultural history, reminding us that when art and food come together, the result is far more than sustenance: it’s a shared act of creation.
