We recently had the chance to connect with Ivo Spirov and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Ivo, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
As an artist, painting is where I lose all sense of time. I can spend an entire day immersed in the canvas, so absorbed that I sometimes have to remind myself to pause for something as simple as eating. Each work is a conversation with myself—deeply personal, expressive, and often revealing parts of me I didn’t know were there.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Ivo Spirov, and I’m an artist. My work blends vivid storytelling with bold, expressive technique. Striving to capture both the seen and the felt, I create pieces that are deeply personal yet universally resonant. My work bridges fine art and lived experience—rooted in curiosity, travel, and cultural exchange—inviting viewers into worlds both familiar and unexpected. At the heart of my practice is the belief, “Don’t forget how to be a kid.” That sense of wonder, playfulness, and fearless exploration shapes not only what I create, but how I see the world—reminding me to approach each canvas with open eyes, a curious mind, and a child’s boundless imagination.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who taught you the most about work?
The person who has most influenced my career is Arlington Forbes. I met him 15 years ago while working in a small sandwich shop in Malibu, right next to the art gallery and boutique he and his wife owned, called Canvas. We would often chat, and one day I shared my sketches with him. From that moment, he became a steady source of encouragement, offering honest advice, constructive critique, and—most importantly—friendship. Years later, I had one of my first shows at Canvas, a milestone that set me on the path to exhibiting in places like Japan and Hong Kong. Sadly, he passed away before he could see my work reach international audiences or witness the way I’ve refined my artistic voice, but his influence continues to shape every piece I create.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
One of the defining negative moments in my art career happened back in high school in Sofia, Bulgaria, where I attended a school with a strong emphasis on art. For my final year project, I created a fully illustrated Lord of the Rings book, drawing inspiration from the manga comics I collected at the time. During the presentation to a panel of teachers, who were all professional artist, and my peers, most of the room responded with enthusiasm. But one teacher, who disliked my illustration style and the overall look of the book, reacted harshly. He became visibly upset, threw my book to the ground, and told the entire class that I would never be anyone. While his words could have crushed me, I chose to take them as fuel. That moment, instead of breaking me, became a catalyst to push harder and refine my voice.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
Be kind, be empathetic, especially these days. Empathetic seems to be vied as a negative word nowadays for some and I cannot stress enough how important is to be. Be honest with yourself, this way you can treat others with the respect they deserve.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
One that I never stopped being a kid. I think this childlike wonderment is something that can unfortunately sometimes diminish as we grow older, but in my opinion is invaluable. Don’t forget how to be a kid.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ivospirov.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivospirov/
