I came across a Bulgarian artist whose name should be knows to all fans of historical Czech automobiles. Stefan Ivanov keeps the flame of Laurin & Klement burning bright through his art.
Who is Stefan Ivanov
Ivanov self-describes as a self-taught pencil artist who was fascinated by old cars since he was a child. After a serious motorcycle accident, the subsequent coma, memory loss, lengthy convalescence and what he says to be the “hardest months of his life”, the Bulgarian artist decided to take up drawing Škoda cars and to study the history of the company (called Laurin & Klement before 1925).
Artistic Career
Since summer of 2006, Stefan Ivanov has not only mastered the art but also opened several exhibitions, promoted the history of Škoda through art across several continents and became a member of the Guild of Motoring Artists.
In 2020, he launched his first exhibition in his hometown of Dryanovo in partnership with Škoda Bulgaria at the 125th anniversary of the automobile plant of Mladá Boleslav. Four years later, his work was shown in this very home of Laurin & Klement in what was his first Czech exhibition. Did you know that you can visit the Museum of Škoda in Mladá Boleslav?
I want to awaken people’s interest in a well-forgotten company – Laurin & Klement.
