Early years

Ivan Mestrovic was born in 1979 in Osijek, Croatia, son of an entrepreneur father and a lawyer mother who practiced painting as an amateur. His parents named him after his illustrious far relative, the 20th century sculptor Ivan Mestrovic. Bathed in this artistic atmosphere, the young Ivan tries painting from the age of twelve, practicing spin-art. He created many series, but only kept a few of them. Very soon and coming into his adolescence, other passions would quickly take over the plastic arts: music and sports.

In the 80's, while taking classical guitar lessons in his hometown’s famous music school , he fell in love with the sound of electric guitars. The young Ivan copied the moves, notes and tunes of his idols, Eric Clapton, David Gilmour and Chris Rea, playing their concerts over and over again on the family VCR. He developed a fascination for Fender Stratocasters, which he has been collecting up until today, putting together one of the biggest collections of artist signature editions.

His parents directed him to tennis, but he redirected himself to Athletics. His body constitution and explosivity made him one of the high-jump champions of his generation. Later, his active sportsman career transformed into sport business and management with no lesser success.

First life

After finishing high school, he enrolled the University of Zagreb to study Law, and started his entrepreneurial career at an early age. He co-founded a logistics start-up company which he sold to an international investment fund in 2008, before moving to Dubai and embarking on other international entrepreneurial ventures that would bring him more successes.

During this period, Ivan Mestrovic's creativity was expressed through the realization his personal projects. His work and ideas on Design and Architecture would be expressed with buildings such as ‘The White House Villa’ and, more recently, the ‘Villa Borelli’ resort complex that he restored and reimagined over a period of 3 years. This unique and historic villa is about to reopen as a luxury hotel, including its contemporary installation park, a seed of the ‘Ivan Mestrovic Fundation’.

From 2018, he collaborated with Sasga Yachts on the design of two yachts, the ‘BRMM BRMM’ and the ‘BORELLI’; projects onto which he is involved with huge joy whilst taking care of the smallest details.

But his greatest architecture related achievement will always be the ‘Pampas Football Stadium’ in Osijek, which, based on his idea, seems to land on the city like an UFO. The staduim was built it during his presidency/co-ownership of the famous Croatian ‘Football Club Osijek’ between 2016 and 2020. This is his tribute his birthplace city, but hopefully not the last one…

SECOND LIFE, the ArtLab

Today, Ivan creates in his studios, which he calls ArtLabs, spread between Monaco, United Arab Emirates, Hungary & Croatia. Places where he can invent and conceptualize works that push the limits of physics. His inspiration is in its image, open to the world and its wonders. His first permanent exhibitions will be featured in the amazing cities of Dubai (2021) and Monaco (2022), while his permanent Artlab creations will be set in the amazing surroundings of ‘Villa Borelli’, in Lukoran, on the Croatian island of Ugljan.

EXHIBITIONS