Ivan Beslic / Artist Statement

Ivan Beslic is a self-taught Croatian artist based in Düsseldorf, Germany. His work is defined by decisive strokes and a close kinship with his subjects. Beslic explores his surroundings to gather everyday observations that inform his art, which focuses on 90s hip-hop culture. He relies on the beats and rhythms of the genre to inspire his workflow and spark creativity.

Beslic sketches his portraits on paper with a black marker. He then develops them further with a series of bold and colourful marker strokes that both reveal and conceal his subjects, creating a kind of hide-and-seek effect with an urban graffiti aesthetic.

The final works are reminiscent of Vincent van Gogh’s expressive technique and Jackson Pollock’s emotional outpouring. Beslic explores the limits of colour to capture mood. His close-up portraits of 21st-century men – including The Notorious B.I.G., Eminem, Spike Lee and Muhammad Ali, as well as soccer and NBA players – echo Andy Warhol’s iconic portrayals of influential figures of his time.

In 2021, Ivan fulfilled a childhood dream together with his twin brother Kiki by opening the B-Brothers Store – a trading card store and art gallery driven by their motto “Preserving the Culture,” reflecting their commitment to celebrating and sustaining the heritage of the hobby. The space quickly became one of the most influential places in the hobby.

In 2022, Beslic joined forces with Topps to create 10 unique soccer trading cards for Project 22, featuring stars such as Haaland, Modric and Iniesta.