Ivan Blazhev graduated from Brooklyn College at the City University of New York majoring in filmmaking.
After his studies he works as a production assistant for the legendary Maysles Films production company specializing in documentary films.
He has made several short and documentary films which have been screened at national and international film festivals, and has also directed commercials and music videos.
Since 2001, Blazhev has been immersed in photographic work, initiating numerous projects which have been exhibited in Macedonia, as well as outside, as individual and group exhibitions.
In 2008 his project Macedonia Dreaming was part of the Beyond Walls – Eastern Europe after 1989 program at the renowned Noorderlicht Photo Festival in the Netherlands.

Between 2001 and 2008 Blazhev has taught Photography and Film Appreciation at NOVA International High School in Skopje, lectured photography workshops at the Macedonian
Center for Photography, photography and video workshops at the Institute of Ethnology
and Anthropology at PMF, as well as several workshops for youths.
Starting in 2008 he teaches Photography and Multimedia at the European University –Republic of Macedonia.

Blazhev has published several books: Sparks (2004) and Homebound (2009) by the Macedonian Center of Photography, Macedonia Dreaming (2007) and Skopje With Eyes Wide Open (2008, with Vladimir Jankovski as co-author) by Templum, and East (2008, group presentation) by Moser Verlag.
He has had 5 individual exhibitions and has participated in various national and international group exhibitions.

Blazhev is a recipient of grants and has received awards for his photographic work.