My name is Iva Staykova
Iva Staykova is a traditional artist raised in Vancouver, BC, with roots tracing back to Sofia, Bulgaria. She traverses themes of growth, isolation, and adaptation to specific environments through the medium of painting. Specifically, she uses oil paint when creating something “alive” and acrylic paint for manmade imagery. In her works, she illustrates the dichotomy between nature and environment, both playing a role in who we are and how we develop as individuals. Iva takes great inspiration from artists like Edward Hopper; they both create artworks that are uncanny snapshots of real life, using a simple style with a minimal color palette. By sharing her own stories, she aims to celebrate vulnerability, invite conversation, and foster communion and healing. As our world becomes more dynamic, complex, and continuously evolving, Iva reaches to her roots to find comfort, strength, solitude, and peace.