Ivan Nenov studied at the Academy of Arts, Sofia (1919–1925). The first showing of his works was in 1926 at an exhibition organized by the Rodno Izkustvo (Native Art) Association. He left the Rodno Izkustvo Association in 1932 to become a member of the Association of New Artists. Between 1936 and 1937 he worked in Turin and from 1941 to 1942 in Munich and Berlin.