Virgil Sova's paintings and prints have been exhibited in more than one hundred national, international and one-man shows and are in private and public collections throughout the United States and Europe. He has won awards at the National Academy of Design, The Allied Artists of America, Salmagundi Club, The Knickerbocker Artists and Neo-Graphics to name just a few. During five consecutive years the Pastel Society of America bestowed top awards on Sova's work, including the award for Most Innovative Use of Pastel and in 1986 he was elected Master Pastelist by the society, thus placing the artist in the vanguard of contemporary pastelists. Recently his work was included in the French Invitational for pastel painting and the exhibition Master Pastelists of the Pastel Society of America, which toured major museums in the United States. Born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, he studied painting and design at Carnegie Mellon University, The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, and The Cleveland Institute of Art and during prolonged stays in France, Italy, Greece and Spain. Mr. Sova had worked as a graphic designer, illustrator and art director with major corporations and design firms in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and New York, before moving to Europe. He taught painting and design at Carnegie Mellon University, The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, The York Academy of Arts, and the Hussian School of Art in Philadelphia. Currently, he devotes full time to painting and maintains residences in Pennsylvania and Spain. Partial List of Awards Elected "MASTER PASTELIST" of the Pastel Society of America, 1987 Gold Medal from the National Academy of Design, New York, 1984 1982 nominee, Pennsylvania Governor's Award of Excellence in the Arts First Prize, Maryland Print Awards, 1982 Gold Medal, Neo-Graphics, 1981 Most Innovative Use of Pastel Award, Pastel Society of America, 1981 Gold Medal , Salmagundi Club, New York, 1980 Certificate of Merit, Pastel Society of America, New York, 1980 Gold Medal, Knickerbocker Artists, National Arts Club, New York, 1979 Schwan Award, Pastel Society of America, New York, 1978 Certificate from the American Art Alliance, New York, 1977 First Prize, Pastel Society of America, New York, 1976 First Prize, Artists of Pennsylvania, William Penn Museum, Harrisburg, PA, 1975   Partial List of Major Exhibitions and Galleries ArtExpo New York Basil International Art Fair, Switzerland Arte 92 New York Arte Philadelphia National Arts Club, New York Pastel Society of America, New York Leaver House Gallery, New York National Academy of Design, New York Pastel Society of France Gallery IMAKA , Zurich, Switzerland Gallery AM Platz, Eglisau, Switzerland American Cultural Center, Madrid, Spain Eduard Nakhamkin Gallery, New York Newman Galleries, Philadelphia Loring Gallery, Cederhurst, NY York College of Pennsyvania, (Retrospective), York, PA IFA Gallery, Washington, D.C. Sher Galleries , Florida Gallery J. Richards, Englewood, NJ The Design Center, Los Angeles, CA The Bradley Academy of Art, York, PA Lancaster Gallery, Lancaster, PA Central Market Art Gallery, Lancaster, PA William Ris Galleries, Camp Hill, PA Lancaster Art Museum