His work has been described as bold and vivid. Some have called his style “pop” or “whimsical.” He’s been compared to Takashi Murakami, the well-known Japanese contemporary artist who is often referred to as the Andy Warhol of his country.
Now, Ivo Spirov is launching his own art career in Malibu. After a few local exhibitions, the international art world has taken notice. Spirov, who works part-time at John’s Garden, has cut his hours taking orders at the Cross Creek restaurant to three days per week so he can focus on his artwork that is now taking him across the globe.
The 32-year-old artist, originally from Bulgaria, has made Malibu and Topanga his home for the past few years. While working at John’s Garden, he quickly established himself in the community and has made many friends who saw, bought and collect his colorful paintings. He explained his style to The Malibu Times.
“I think all of us are so happy when we are kids and a lot of us grow out of it, unfortunately, with age. The way that I paint reminds me of the way it was when I was a kid,” Spirov said. “Even on my social media, my thing is: Don’t forget how to be a kid. It’s a pop of color — vibrant, happy, free-flowing images. I call it ‘contemporary surreal’ because that’s a dream-like state.”
As a kid growing up in Bulgaria, Spirov was surrounded by art. His mother worked for 20 years as a public relations official for the country’s national art gallery. He described roaming the large, ornate building’s attics and catacombs full of art. In college, he majored in visual art and thought he would become an animator after becoming enchanted with the many Japanese animated movies he watched growing up. He specifically mentioned the Academy Award-winning film “Spirited Away,” by acclaimed director Hayao Miyazaki.
“The reason I started painting [was], when I was a kid, I watched Japanese animation; a lot of my work is in that style,” Spirov said. “The movies are not necessarily just for kids. I think they’re great for all ages. The work is amazing. It’s all hand-drawn and it’s absolutely charming.”
Now the art world in Japan is finding Spirov charming. He just returned from showing his work at the Tokyo International Art Fair. The artist explained the Japanese found him through social media.
“They saw my work on Instagram. One hundred twenty artists [were] invited for 10 days,” Spirov recalled. “Japan is an absolutely amazing country. It’s been my childhood dream to go, since I grew up with their art. For me to be recognized in Japan and being invited, it was really a dream come true.”
Getting Spirov to Japan, though, became a community effort. His fiancée, Natalie Backman, started an online donation campaign through gofundme.com.
“A lot of Malibu people and friends of mine donated. The biggest surprise was I got an email from gofundme, from the company, which I thought was a sales pitch or something,” Spirov recounted. “Turns out it was one of the main people there. He said he really loved my work, he thinks I’m really talented, ‘Congratulations on Japan,’ and then he donated the rest of the money — $1,000. It was unexpected.”
Spirov said he’s very thankful to the Malibu community who has embraced him and his artwork. He mentioned Canvas, where his work has been shown, and artist Michelle Geft of Malibu Artists Unite, along with gallerist Tracy Park. He said he and Park would soon announce an event planned for late summer that he is excited about. It will be a pop-up gallery in what he described as a gorgeous location overlooking PCH in a beautiful building.
Spirov currently has a surfboard on display at Malibu City Hall as part of its collection being showcased for the City of Malibu 25th anniversary. France-based art project Funny Zoo has tapped him to paint one of its giant fiberglass animals to be displayed in Malibu. He is about to do an album cover for the local band The Palms and is collaborating with images from photographer Rony Peters. Those works are acrylic on serigraph. Soon he’ll also be exhibiting in New York and Australia.
Keeping close to Malibu, Spirov is now teaching a children’s painting class at Bluffs Park through the City of Malibu Parks and Recreation Department. Called “Imagination,” a new class will start in July 16th.
In the meantime, Spirov can be found taking orders at John’s Garden and eating the Ivo (pronounced EE-vo) burger, named after him.
