Murals
The artistic work of Ivan Milev does not concentrate exclusively on paintings.
From 1917, the year he spend at the North Front during the First World War, untill he began his studies at the National Art Academy in Sofia, 1920, he was undecided wether to become a painter or a writer.
His most touching literary works from 1917 mirror the themes that were also present in his paintings of the period: death, suffering and sorrow of the Bulgarian people. His diary, letters and literary works were published for the first time in the catalogue "Ivan Milev. 100th anniversary" [100 godinina na Ivan Milev, bulg.], ed. R. Marinska, cat., Sofia {Nacionalna chudoestvena galerija}, 1997, Sofia 1997.
Next to water-colour, oil and tempera paintings Ivan Milev executed two murals. In 1925 he decorated the house of Stainov in Kazanlak with a series of wall-decorations and murals. This work reflects his decorative style with flat and geometric figures. After his marriage with the Bulgarian actress Katia Naumova in 1925 Ivan Milev painted the murals in his home in Sofia at Gurko street nr. 34. In contrast to the murals of Kazanlak the last ones have a very romantic air.