Ivan Kirkov was born in 1932 in Asenovgrad, Bulgaria. He graduated the National Academy of Fine Arts in Sofia, studied painting in Prof. Kiril Tzonev's and Prof. Ilyia Petrov's classes. Since his participation in First Youth Exhibition in 1961 Ivan Kirkov's name became synonym of nonconformity and modernity. The artist works in different fields and genres - painting, illustration, poster, scenography. He has many awards for painting, applied and monumental art.