diff --git a/ivy/data_classes/array/array.py b/ivy/data_classes/array/array.py
index f57bec181ac9c..34bcb9d4b9049 100644
--- a/ivy/data_classes/array/array.py
+++ b/ivy/data_classes/array/array.py
@@ -144,6 +144,10 @@ def _init(self, data, dynamic_backend=None):
             self._data = data
         elif isinstance(data, np.ndarray):
             self._data = ivy.asarray(data)._data
+        elif ivy.is_ivy_sparse_array(data):
+            self._data = data._data
+        elif ivy.is_native_sparse_array(data):
+            self._data = data._data
         else:
             raise ivy.utils.exceptions.IvyException(
                 "data must be ivy array, native array or ndarray"
diff --git a/ivy/functional/ivy/experimental/sparse_array.py b/ivy/functional/ivy/experimental/sparse_array.py
index 46e6eb64fa428..5c67cc823e7c1 100644
--- a/ivy/functional/ivy/experimental/sparse_array.py
+++ b/ivy/functional/ivy/experimental/sparse_array.py
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ def _is_valid_format(
     )
 
 
-class SparseArray:
+class SparseArray(ivy.Array):
     def __init__(
         self,
         data=None,
@@ -425,6 +425,9 @@ def __init__(
                 "col_indices, values and dense_shape)."
             )
 
+        # initialize parent class
+        super(SparseArray, self).__init__(self)
+
     def _init_data(self, data):
         if ivy.is_ivy_sparse_array(data):
             self._data = data.data
@@ -535,6 +538,37 @@ def _init_compressed_column_components(
         self._crow_indices = None
         self._col_indices = None
 
+    def __repr__(self):
+        if self._dev_str is None:
+            self._dev_str = ivy.as_ivy_dev(self.device)
+            self._pre_repr = "ivy.sparse_array"
+            if "gpu" in self._dev_str:
+                self._post_repr = ", dev={})".format(self._dev_str)
+            else:
+                self._post_repr = ")"
+        if self._format == "coo":
+            repr = (
+                f"indices={self._coo_indices}, values={self._values},"
+                f" dense_shape={self._dense_shape}"
+            )
+        elif self._format == "csr" or self._format == "bsr":
+            repr = (
+                f"crow_indices={self._crow_indices}, col_indices={self._col_indices},"
+                f" values={self._values}, dense_shape={self._dense_shape}"
+            )
+        else:
+            repr = (
+                f"ccol_indices={self._ccol_indices}, row_indices={self._row_indices},"
+                f" values={self._values}, dense_shape={self._dense_shape}"
+            )
+        return (
+            self._pre_repr
+            + "("
+            + repr
+            + f", format={self._format}"
+            + self._post_repr.format(ivy.current_backend_str())
+        )
+
     # Properties #
     # -----------#
 
diff --git a/ivy_tests/test_ivy/test_functional/test_experimental/test_core/test_sparse_array.py b/ivy_tests/test_ivy/test_functional/test_experimental/test_core/test_sparse_array.py
index 8082dc60733ce..de62bbd2be3df 100644
--- a/ivy_tests/test_ivy/test_functional/test_experimental/test_core/test_sparse_array.py
+++ b/ivy_tests/test_ivy/test_functional/test_experimental/test_core/test_sparse_array.py
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 from hypothesis import strategies as st
 
 # local
+import ivy
+import numpy as np
 import ivy_tests.test_ivy.helpers as helpers
 from ivy_tests.test_ivy.helpers import handle_method
 
@@ -178,6 +180,44 @@ def _sparse_csr_indices_values_shape(draw):
 # ------------ #
 
 
+# adding sparse array to dense array
+@handle_method(
+    init_tree="ivy.array",
+    method_tree="Array.__add__",
+    sparse_data=_sparse_coo_indices_values_shape(),
+)
+def test_array_add_sparse(
+    sparse_data,
+    method_name,
+    class_name,
+    on_device,
+):
+    coo_ind, val_dtype, val, shp = sparse_data
+
+    # set backed to 'torch' as this is the only backend which supports sparse arrays
+    ivy.set_backend("torch")
+
+    # initiate a sparse array
+    sparse_inst = ivy.sparse_array.SparseArray(
+        coo_indices=coo_ind,
+        values=val,
+        dense_shape=shp,
+        format="coo",
+    )
+
+    # create an Array instance
+    array_class = getattr(ivy, class_name)
+    x = np.random.random_sample(shp)
+    x = ivy.array(x, dtype=val_dtype, device=on_device)
+
+    # call add method
+    add_method = getattr(array_class, method_name)
+    res = add_method(x, sparse_inst)
+
+    # make sure the result is an Array instance
+    assert isinstance(res, array_class)
+
+
 # bsc - to_dense_array
 @handle_method(
     method_tree="SparseArray.to_dense_array",