In 1976, Ognyan Mehandjiev graduated with a degree in art from the National Academy of Fine Arts in Sofia, Bulgaria. He subsequently obtained a masters degree in fine arts. Ognyan is a member of the Bulgarian Painters Union since 1988 and has formerly served on its Board of Directors.

In 1989, he was nominated Regional Executive Director of the Union for Blagoevgrad. Ognyan focuses on oil paintings, graphics, and illustrations. He has had one-man exhibitions in the Netherlands and Cyprus and has participated in numerous exhibitions throughout Bulgaria, as well as Germany and France. His artworks are in private collections throughout the world.