## Breadcrumb 1. [Home](/index%2Ephp/) 2. [News and Stories](/index%2Ephp/news) 3. [OCAD U remembers Vassil Popvassilev](/index%2Ephp/markdownify/node/2802) November 22, 2024 # OCAD U remembers Vassil Popvassilev ![A photo of a smiling man wearing a greent shirt and blue jeans. He is standing in front of artprints and beside an easel in an art studio.](/sites/default/files/styles/1_5_1_large/public/2024-11/IMage%20of%20Vassil%20better.png.webp?itok=bY8d6SrF) rgb(255,255,255) The OCAD University community is saddened to learn of the passing of Vassil Popvassilev on October 22, 2024, at the age of 80. He was an instructor and studio leader who taught drawing and design in the Faculty of Design from 2002 to 2014. Popvassilev graduated from the National Academy of Visual Arts in Sofia, Bulgaria, in 1967 and later obtained a master’s degree in industrial and Product Design from the Burg Giebichenstein University of Arts and Design in Halle, Germany. In 2002, he joined OCAD U, teaching drawing in Industrial and Environmental Design. He was an accomplished artist and designer, working in multiple mediums and an active member of the Société d’histoire de Toronto. **Remembering Vassil Popvassilev** Popvassilev is remembered as an extraordinary artist and educator who mentored and touched the lives of many students during his time at OCAD U. He was known as a caring and dedicated mentor who nurtured students beyond the classroom and as emerging professional artists and designers. “Vassil encouraged me to pursue my passion for design and his wisdom stayed with me long after graduating from OCAD University. His mentorship shaped lives across generations; the junior designer we recently welcomed to our team credits him with preparing her portfolio and inspiring her path to OCAD U as well,” said Polina Blagoeva in a tribute published on LinkedIn. Blagoeva is Popvassilev’s niece and OCAD U alum. “To Vassil, mentorship wasn’t an obligation; it was his way of being. He saw potential where others might not and gave people the tools and confidence to realize it.” Popvassilev was an award-winning artist who held exhibitions in Canada, Bulgaria, Japan, Poland, Turkey, Germany and many others. He earned the Award of Artistic Achievement at the 36th International Exhibition of Enameling Art, in Tokyo, Japan in 2002 and the Special Award at the ECCA Design Competition, Brussels, Belgium in 1987. Popvassilev founded Vasko Studio in 1997. As an avid lover of the outdoors, he travelled widely to Oceania, the Americas and Europe to explore the natural world. Friends and family fondly recall joyous canoe trips through Canada’s national parks in his company. OCAD U extends its condolences to his family, friends and loved ones. **Sources:** [Vasko Studio – Artist’s Biography](http://www.studiovasko.com/artists-biography/) [Linkedin](https://ca.linkedin.com/in/vassil-popvassilev-76726415) ***Image courtesy of Vasko Studio*** ## Other Recent News [### 2026-27 Call for Funding Proposals for Student Groups that Support Creative Entrepreneurship on Campus The RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) invites OCAD University student groups with a mandate to support entrepreneurship on campus to apply for funding for student-led initiatives that strengthen and expand the creative entrepreneurship ecosystem at OCAD U. This funding is intended to help student groups create opportunities for entrepreneurship skills development, community building, and revenue-generating activities for students and recent alumni, while reducing barriers to participation for equity-seeking individuals. November 6, 2026 ](/news/2026-27-call-funding-proposals-student-groups-support-creative-entrepreneurship-campus) [### 2027 Critical Distance Centre for Curators Projections Program Call for Artists OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) and Critical Distance Centre for Curators (CDCC) have partnered to co-create CDCC Projections Program Career Launcher. Four (4) to five (5) selected emerging artists will receive $690 to exhibit work in a single channel, projection-based screening program that will be displayed at the CDCC in March 2027. October 30, 2026 ](/news/2027-critical-distance-centre-curators-projections-program-call-artists) [### Call for Vendors: BAM! Holiday Art Market 2026 OCAD University's RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) is excited to partner again with Wychwood Barns to offer a curated group of OCAD U students and recent alumni the opportunity to share a vendor table at the BAM! Holiday Art Market. October 26, 2026 ](/news/call-vendors-bam-holiday-art-market-2026) Related Stories ## Related Stories [### OCAD U breaks the mold with new public website The integrated website and app (myOCADU) set bold standard for user experience and design. November 27, 2024 ](/news/ocad-u-breaks-mold-new-public-website)