Ivan Dimitrov’s art and mastery of the craft of woodcarving has gained international recognition, awards, and a large following.

Born in the tiny village of Zhelad in Bulgaria in 1944 to a farming family, he pursued an education in the National Academy of Arts in Sofia and was expelled for political reasons. Mostly self-taught, he spent a short time working as an apprentice to one of the old masters of the craft, Peter Kushlev, and later spent some time at Ecole Boule in Paris.

Dimitrov quickly gained recognition and his work received multiple medals and awards in numerous national and international art exhibits and competitions in the 70’s and 80’s. Later, in the early 90’s, Ivan’s art caught the attention of numerous international diplomats in Bulgaria, including a special exhibit at the Swiss Embassy in Bulgaria. Ivan’s large “Bolyar Dining Set” piece was sold to the Irish Ambassador. He appeared in numerous national TV and radio interviews and publications in Bulgaria.

In 1998, he immigrated to the US and settled in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Since then, he has been working almost exclusively on commission and not showing his work in galleries. He has participated in the International Folk Art Market, been featured in the New Mexican, the Albuquerque Journal, Trend Magazine, and the Santa Fean magazine, and in exhibits at the State Capitol. He has completed commissions for institutional and private clients in Texas, Kansas, Colorado, California, New York, New Mexico, and Arizona. In addition, he teaches Advanced Woodcarving classes at the Santa Fe Community College.

For 53 years, art has been his livelihood. At 79, Ivan continues to create and carve daily.