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.