The story of Diana Dobreva...

Growing up in the ancient Bulgarian city of Plovdiv, Diana Dobreva has always been inspired by the movement and color of her surroundings. An adventurer at heart, Diana captures all of the life of her journeys, from soaring over the Balkan expanse in gliders and balloons, to sailing the Black Sea, she weaves her memories of multicolored swirls and traditional folk patterns into sweaters, vests, and dresses. After completing a masters degree in Agricultural Engineering, Diana immigrated to America and continued to show her work at galleries across the states before taking a hiatus from textiles to focus on supporting her family and pursuing a career in cytogenetics. Now, Diana has reconnected with her love of fabrics, and has begun exploring the process of wet felting, where she creates hats, gloves, and scarves, along with unique pieces of wool-wrapped soap, transforming the soft, durable, and antimicrobial material into sculptural forms that are both beautiful and practical. 

Where to find her work...
You can find her work on Long Island at Gallery North, LongHouse Reserve, and the Reboli Center. Additionally, you can learn more about Diana in her August 2025 Artisan of the Month feature at the Reboli Center for Art and History.