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ABOUT BARBRA

Hello! I'm Barbra Ignatiev.

I believe that color has a big impact on your outlook. Through my art, I aim to inspire you to reach bigger, be bolder — and also have fun in the process.

I’m based in Santa Cruz, California with my surfer husband, Mike. We live in a beautiful beach home only blocks from the sea, a dream come true.

BARBARIAN started in 2014, when we moved to California, as a way to express my wild-at-heart spirit. We needed colorful gear for our new adventurous beach lifestyle and to decorate our empty apartment — that’s how this was all born!

With just $10 in art supplies – and 30 minutes a day – I started painting.

As of January 2022, I’ve made over 1000 designs!

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A daily dancer, I paint in a carefree style, hoping to evoke the motto which is true in my life and I hope to instill in others: “Momentum not perfection.”

I believe in being bold, getting messy and loving yourself along the way.

BARBARIAN encapsulates adventure and benevolent vibes.

Although many people consider “barbarian” a harsh word I chose it with purpose.

Besides being rather eponymous, the word has a deeper meaning.

It was a word first given to foreigners by the Romans a looooong time ago.

As humans sometimes do naturally, we label things negatively that we don’t understand.

What I aim to do is help make people comfortable with change and “otherness” — by inserting wild, imperfect beauty into their lives. (I’m BIG into scribbling and experimenting.)

I want to inspire imperfect action to conquer fear. Or on the flip, calm when the world is in chaos.

Perhaps that’s a tall order for pretty prints, but this is exactly what making art has led me to – being a braver and calmer person.

My art is for those who crave more fun and empowerment in their lives.

I've worked with over a dozen companies to put more beauty into the world.

Home decor, bedding, handbags, resort wear, swimwear and soooo much more — my prints have it covered. Check out my collab page to see my list of launched collaborations.

I’m proud to have been featured at Anthropologie — an exclusive collection of ceramics, stationery and gifts, a dream come true.

Being a lover of nature, I am dedicated to working with responsible manufacturers that make high-quality, ethically-made products. If you are an established manufacturer that shares my same love of the Earth and want to work together, jump over here – I’d love to hear from you!

Before building BARBARIAN, I worked at many design studios in the party, craft, and fashion industries. I have 20+ years experience in the product design field.

My desire is to cover the world in bold, inspiring print.

When I’m not painting, I’m at the beach with my surfer love or on our rooftop deck talking back to very sassy seagulls.

I enjoy trying new foods (mmmm fried grasshoppers!), discovering new plants and animals on long walks, and watching British dramas.

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Big love,

Barbra

YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN ME IN

PRESS + NOTABLES

Yoga Journal - 2018
FEATURED IN PRINT & PATTERN NATURE - JAN 2017
Sew Magazine UK - Aug 2016
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