Local Artist “Igor” Talks about the CYCLE of a Self-Employed Artist

With a singular name, Igor didn’t quite need an introduction at our last Creative Mornings gathering of the year, but he got one anyway. The reception reflected the energetic community the local artist has helped build; with more than 75 excited guests piling into The Garage, this was our best-attended morning yet!

Growing up in Delaware, Igor was inspired by car culture and by the arts, but he never imagined those two worlds would one day collide.

In the 1980s, Igor became a professional roadie for a metal rock band based in Ocean City, Md., It was in Ocean City that Igor would join the iconic 17th Street Surf Shop as a visual merchandiser, spending a decade working as a creative within the East Coast surf culture and eventually relocating to Virginia Beach.

After more than a decade designing window displays, Igor began searching for his next opportunity. “I knew I had to widen my horizons, but taking that leap was scary.” Encouraged by friends, Igor decided to pursue his pinstriping “hobby” full-time.

Two decades later, Igor has handpainted on motorcycles, helmets, vintage cars, storefronts, murals, banners and more across Virginia Beach and beyond. Ever holiday season, Igor paints hundreds of his iconic XXX balls, depicting irreverent, lighthearted sayings or custom messages.

Igor’s intricate pinstriping and funky lettering has also drawn the interest of national brands and celebrity clients, including Bob Ritchie (a.k.a. Kid Rock), with whom Igor has collaborated for more than eight years. Recently, Redbull Music and Gibson Guitars commissioned Igor to paint 14 custom guitars for a notable group of country music artists, including Brothers Osborne and Shaboozey.

One of Igor’s fondest memories has been presenting a guitar to Derek Wells, an award-winning guitar player for the likes of Post Malone. Inspired by Derek’s passion for wrist watches, Igor painted a Rolex Submariner on the Gibson ES, complete with Rolex lettering depicting the musician’s children’s names.

At his studio and eclectic shop located within The Alley in Virginia Beach’s ViBe Creative District, Igor also houses the “World’s Smallest Museum,” a wall-to-wall collection of some of his most cherished oddities. It was in this local creative sanctuary that Igor dreamed up the vision for The Alley’s beloved VB Flea, a curated vintage and antique market. Now in its ninth year, the VB Flea averages 4,000-5,000 visitors and has a growing waiting list for vendors.

“Part of your responsibility as a creative in a smaller community is to take the initiative and make things happen yourself. If you want to get involved, all you have to do is ask.”

In addition to painting, creating and collaborating, Igor relishes his Brazilian jiu-jitsu practice, which he credits with making him a better, kinder and more thoughtful person. In that spirit, giving back is also central to Igor’s artistic work. Each year, he donates artwork to Nashville’s Tomahawn Charitable Solutions in support of military, law enforcement and special forces operators and their families.

When asked why he has stayed in Virginia Beach when his talent could take him anywhere in the world, Igor responds: “VB is too amazing to leave. I’m way too excited to see this creative community continue to grow.”

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Written by CMVB volunteer blogger Valeria L. Palmertree

Join us every third Friday in 2025 as we explore, along with 236 other cities in 69 countries around the world, 12 new themes in a face-to-face community format. Past themes have included Rhythm, Endurance, Ritual, Reflection and Vision. January’s theme is JOURNEY, and our speaker will be Raeesah Islam of Utopia Feni.

CM also has virtual field trips and a database of previous talks to enjoy and explore at home.