MEET THE ARTISTS

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Kamee Abrahamian

Kamee was born in an immigrant suburb to an Armenian family by way of the SWANA region. She is an interdisciplinary creative, writer, producer, and facilitator. and holds a BFA/BA in film and political science (Concordia University) and an MA in expressive art therapy (European Graduate Institute). Kamee is currently pursuing an MA/PhD in community, liberation, indigenous and eco psychologies (Pacifica Graduate Institute).

Most recently, Kamee has been working freelance under Saboteur Productions (founder) and collaboratively through Kalik Arts (co-founder).

For more information visit Kamee's site.

Arevik Arakelyan

Arevik Arakelyan, founder of Artuyt was created to make Armenian art known worldwide -- creating scarves with Armenian artist’s paintings and collages.

One scarf takes a full 2 months to complete, making it an exquisitely crafted accessory. By the help of beautiful and unique scarves you will be given the chance to discover exquisite artifacts of the Armenian culture – beginning from the medieval times to the modern abstractionism.

For more information visit Arevik's site.

Michael Aram

Michael Aram is an award-winning artist who has dedicated his career to craft-based design. Inspired by a trip to India at age 25, he established a second home and studio there, where he continues to draw creative inspiration today.

Trained as a painter, sculptor, and art historian, Michael has neatly applied his diverse background to the decorative arts. Lyrical and often witty, his work encompasses a wide range of media and reveals a rich and variant source of inspiration – nature, mythology, narrative storytelling, and purified form. Michael’s work is also a celebration of craft and age-old hand working traditions. It is the enduring fusion of these ideals – originality, narrative, and craftsmanship – that has become the hallmark of this gifted artist.

For more information visit Michael's site.

Ani Baronian

Ani Baronian is originally from Worcester MA. She received her BFA from the School of Visual Arts and her MFA from the Glasgow School of Art. Ani has exhibited in Glasgow Scotland, Akureyri Iceland, Berlin Germany, Amsterdam Netherlands.

She has received funding from the Glasgow City Council and the British Arts Council. While at the Glasgow School of Art she received a scholarship from the William and Mary Armour Fellowship. She has been creating Fiber Art for the past 7 Years.

For more information contact Ani at a.baronian1@hotmail.com

Raffi Berberian

Raffi is a freelance photographer from Havertown, Pennsylvania who has lived in Armenia for 2 years on his own and through the Birthright Armenia Program. In Armenia he worked at various organizations and worked on his own projects.

Raffi is currently working on a project called Armenia: In Between, that explores the lesser known places of Armenia. Instead of focusing on the main attractions that many people have seen before like Garni, Geghart, Khor Virap, and Noravank, he is showing people everything else Armenia has to offer. In addition to his own projects, he is a photographer for the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology Department.

For more information visit Raffi's page.

Taleen Berberian

Inherent in her sculptures, installations and drawings is a stylized notion of femininity where Issues of maternity and personal narrative manifest in form and content.

Combining materials and processes Taleen continues the dialogue with master artist mentors in California and New York, and maternal/paternal legacy; influencing her artistic language from influences and traditions of couture, costuming, sculpture fabrication (family plastics business), Califonia Ceramic sculpture (training) and the cultural tradition of Armenian crochet lace (maternal legacy), form her personal dialect of art and craft.

For more information visit Taleen's site.

Vahe Berberian

It starts with the streets, smells and sounds of Beirut, Lebanon. In beginnings, reactions are instinctive and purity is not compromised. Vahé Berberian, an Armenian painter, author, playwright, director and actor, is able to hold on to that instinct and purity through all his journeys, becoming the phenomena known as Vahé.

His parents’ home in Beirut served as a stage where personalities from the worlds of theater, literature and the arts interacted passionately. Conversation flowed and humor filtered intensity. This is where Vahe, the storyteller, was formed.

1973. Leaving the safety of the familial nest, exchanging the familiar with the unknown, Vahé becomes part of the counterculture and travels through Eastern and Western Europe. Upon returning home, he lives the onset of the Lebanese Civil War in 1976. Devastated, Vahé reluctantly relocates to Los Angeles. Four years later, he graduates with honors, receiving a degree in journalism, while fervently pursuing art.

For more information visit Vahe's site.

Vadim Danielian

Danielian Jewellery represents a line of exquisite art pieces, composed of fine gems and semi-precious stones on gold. Over the course of two decades, founder/jeweler Vadim Danielian has been meticulously perfecting his work, which reflects his aesthetic taste and approach.

Vadim combines ancient jewelry-making traditions with modern techniques and technology for a unique and personal style. This distinct approach to jewelry art drives Danielian Jewellery pieces to represent flawless consonance, love, and an ambition for artistic perfection.

For more information visit Vadim's site.

Garegin Davtyan

Garegin Davtyan was born in 1954 in Yerevan, Armenia.
In 1978 – Graduated from the Yerevan State Academy of Art, the department of Sculpture.

Since 1983 – has been a member of Artists’ Union of USSR. Since 1990 – Has been teaching at the Yerevan State Academy of Art. Since 1996 – Has been a permanent member of the jury of the International Competition Dedicated to Dante Allegiery. In 2005 – Got a Professor’s post and rank.

For more information visit Garegin's site.

Areg Elibekian

Professional painter, Areg Elibekian is a third-generation artist of Armenian descent. His grandfather Vagarshag Elibekian specialized in naïve paintings of his native city of Tbilisi (Georgia). His father, Robert Elibekian is a renowned Armenian painter.

A graduate of the Yerevan State Institute of Theatre and Fine Arts, he dedicated himself to costume and stage design, as well as painting, which is strongly influenced by the world of music and the performing arts. Areg’s uncle Henry is famous for his avant-garde performances and paintings highly non-conformist during the Communist era.

For more information visit Areg's site.

Henry Elibekian

1936 – born in Tbilisi. 1954-1956 – studied at the drama department of the Yerevan Institute of Drama and Fine Arts. 1956-1957 – studied at the drama and directing departments of the Tbilisi Drama Institute. Worked as an actor at the Stepan Shahoumyan Tbilisi Theater of Armenian drama. 1959-1962 – studied at the painting department of the Yerevan Institute of Drama and Fine Arts. 1964 – studied at the graphics department of the Lvov Typography Institute. 1967 – graduated from the painting department of the Yerevan Institute of Drama and Fine Arts.

1967-1971 – worked as a designer at the Exhibition of National Economy Achievements of the USSR, Moscow. Since 1965 – constant participant of republican, union and international exhibitions (Holland, Germany, France, Portugal, USA, Poland, Austria, Italy, Belgium, etc.). 1981 – “The exhibition of Elibekian’s family”, in different cities of Germany, during one year. 1994 – along with Robert and Areg Elibekians the exhibition in Montreal (Canada), organized by “Hamazgain” center.

Personal exhibitions: 2011 - "The characters of Tiflis", dedicated to his father - Vagharshak Elibekyan's 100 anniversary, Modern Art Museum, Yerevan. 2012 - "Lifelong dialog", dedicated to Henrik Igityan's death 3rd anniversary, Modern Art Museum, Yerevan. The works are kept in State museums and Artistic Funds of Yerevan, Tbilisi, Moscow and numerous private collections in Armenia and abroad.

Robert Elibekian

Robert Elibekian was born in April 1941 in Tbilisi. In 1960 he moved to Armenia and settled in Yerevan. The same year he entered the Yerevan Arts and Theater Institute. In 1965, after graduating from the institute, he started his fruitful creative biography actively participating in various national and union exhibitions.

Elibekian has been a member of the Union of Artists of Armenia since 1970. For many years he was involved in stage-design for theatres in Armenia and overseas. Simultaneously he worked as a designer and producer of a number of films shot at the ArmenFilm Studio.

The artist's saturated creative life was reflected in numerous personal exhibitions organized not only in Armenia, Moscow, Vilnius, and other cities of the Soviet Union, but also in major centers of Europe and America.

For more information visit Robert's site.

Vaharsag-Elibekyan-Theater-at-the-Ttibli

Vagharshak Elibekian

(1910-1994)

Born in Tiflis.
1929 – finished “Hayartoun” art school,

1936-1956 – was the director of the Armenia Theatre in Tbilisi and director of Armenian State Theatre,

1989 – the exhibition “Elibekians” (the Museum of Oriental Art, Moscow).

1994 – died in Yerevan. Personal exhibitions:

1976 – Yerevan 1977 – Tbilisi 2005 – the works were shown in the exhibition of “Naïve Masters”, Tbilisi.

The works are kept in Modern Art Museum (Yerevan), National Gallery of Armenia (Yerevan), Museum of Literature (Yerevan), National Gallery of Georgia (Tbilisi), in the picture galleries of Moscow and Baku, and many private collections in Armenia and abroad.

Liana Gevorgyan

A New York City-based artist, came into prominence for the abstract style painting. Liana art is characterized by vibrant colors and mixed techniques. Nature, human connection and positive energy are her primary source of inspiration.

Liana studied at the Igityan Art School for 6 years. By building a successful career in the high-tech industry for the past 15 years, she never stopped pursuing her childhood artistic passion that began in her native Armenia. She participated in a number of exhibitions and contests including an exhibition at United Nations. Her work has been exhibited in Armenia, Russia, France, and the U.S.

For more information visit Liana's page.

Tigran Ghulyan

Tigran Ghulyan credits his father Mamikon Ghulyan, an artist and sculptor, for taking him into the magic world of artistic endeavors. It was from his father that Tigran learned the basics, such as line, color, light and shadow, proportion, perspective, holding brushes and pencils correctly, observing nature, seeing beauty, and so on.

Tigran grew up in Dilijan, Armenia and, at the age of 14, became a student at Dilijan Drawing School and then continued education in Yerevan State Polytechnic University majoring in both painting and architecture. He believes an architect is also an artist, while every artist must study architecture as well.

For more information visit Tigran's site.

Hamo Hambardzumyan

Hamo loves to practice classical, realistic, conceptual, compositional, & abstract styles. Experienced in graphics, but prefers oil on canvas. Two of his exclusive exhibitions have already taken place in New Jersey. His artworks are in private collections in the United States, France, the UK, Holland, Russia, Armenia, & many other countries.

For more information visit Hamo's site.

Armen Kankanian

Armen’s collections are stylish and graceful, and timeless in appeal. The look is bold and simple, enhanced by accents. The collections are about movement, joy and delight. They are sensuous and sexy, with gentle sweeps and curves. The palette is delicate and with a shimmering luminance.

The experience is truly worldly, blending elements of European and American design to create something fresh and unique. And they are truly classics – elegant and enduring for future generations to relish and appreciate.

For more information visit Armen's site.

Mariana Majian

Mariana Majian is a fused glass artist who lives and works in Pennsylvania. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and descendent of Armenian Genocide survivor. Her art pays homage to her Armenian heritage and love for art. Her distinctive personal style expresses the vibrant spirit of the Armenian culture.

As a child Mariana Majian was interested in the world of Art, from a young age she has believed, “You can create anything once you see it in your mind.” She earned a Bachelor of International Business from Universidad de la Marina Mercante in Argentina. She studied fused glass for over a year in Argentina as a hobby. She started her art work with abstract designs she created for her handmade organic belts. Then she transitions to two dimensional framework artwork and plates with Armenian designs and pansies flowers. All this artwork was brought to life under the glass fused art.

For more information contact Mariana at mnmajian@gmail.com

Sarkis Mazmanian

Sarkis Mazmanian, whose work is characterized by an exquisite refinement as well as impressive originality, has work permanently on display in two locations in New York City.

His artwork can also be seen at The Gamut. There he designed the walls and did several original paintings and mirrors, as well as the logo and the exterior faux patina. The New York City Zagat guide rated his work highly, describing it as a “distressed chic” look.

Sarkis, who earned his B.F.A. from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and also did postgraduate work at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, is well known as a muralist and a versatile painter and sculptor.

For more information visit Sarkis's site.

Seda Melikyan

Seda Melikyan started painting and drawing at a very young age. A self-taught artist, she is inspired by the colors, textures and shapes of nature that surrounds her.

Seda works with a variety of mediums, but silk is by far her favorite. She also likes sharing the love of silk painting with others and teaches workshops and organizes charity fundraisers. Her silky creations are both her refuge and joy, and she sincerely wants to share them with you.

For more information visit Seda's site.

Mary-Roud Petrosyan

Mary-Roud was born in 1975 in Armenia. She graduated from University of Armenia Art Academy with honors (6 year degree) in 1998. She specializes in oil painting also acrylic, pencil and watercolor etc. Her works have been exhibited around the world.

For more information contact Mary at Maryroud@hotmail.com

Rudik Petrosyan

Since 1970, the works of Rudik Petrosyan have been collected by the Armenian Museum of Art, Tretiakov Museum of Moscow, Kiev Museum of Russia, State Art Galleries of Yerevan and private collections in USA, Japan, Germany, France, Argentina and so on. Currently residing in New Jersey.

For more information visit Rudik's site.

Simon Samsonian

Simon Samsonian (1912-2003).

Born in 1912 and orphaned during the Armenian Genocide, Samsonian moved to Egypt and later to the United States. He became a giant in the art world with his “Symbolic Cubist” style.

-- unmistakable warm abstraction and what critics have termed cubist-impressionism.

One may find hints of abstract expressionism in some of the pieces, which would make sense as Samsonian was intrigued by developments in the west in the mid-twentieth century, perhaps more so than most of his contemporaries. Of interest is the shift into less figurative works as he grew closer to his passing and more of an emphasis on softer tones and hues instead of the bold lines and colors of the studies that dominated earlier in his career.

Samsonian’s works are on display in various museum collections, including the National Art Gallery in Yerevan, Armenia, the Museum of Modern Art, Cairo, Egypt, the Musée Arménien de France, the collection of the Mekhitarist Fathers’ Monastic Order, Vienna, Austria and the Hecksher Museum of Art in Huntington, NY.

Kevork Shadoyan

Shadoyan was born in 1974 in Aleppo, Syria to an Armenian family. Kevork's father was a tailor in Aleppo and the young man fell in love with working with clothing in his teenage years. He had his own designer school in Aleppo. Kevork was very well known in the area and was even once invited to Saudi Arabia to design the dowry clothes for one of the princesses there. For four months, together with forty Indian workers, he designed and made almost forty dresses for her.

After schooling and practice he decided to bring his workmanship to the homeland and settled down in Armenia. Kevork always wanted to come to Armenia to learn the history and create traditional Armenian clothes. He finally moved in 2001, and he studied at the National Academy of Arts and has been living in Armenia since.

For more information visit Kevork's site.

Art'Sun Shimshirian

Art'Sun Shimshirian is a Beirut-based metal artwork company owned by brothers Alex and Sevag Shimshirian, that provides top-notch, tailor-made services across all stages of metal design and sculpting; from idea, to clay, wax, metal casting, cleaning, oxidation and patina.

For more information visit ArtSun's page.

Kegham Tazian

Kegham Tazian is an award-winning sculptor and painter. The Armenian-born artist has gained much notoriety for the diversity of his work and the variety of media exemplified in his pieces. A blend of modernism, realism and abstraction are commonly depicted in his paintings and sculptures.

His artwork has been represented in more than 40 solo exhibitions and more than 75 group exhibitions throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and the Middle East. His work adorns the entrances and halls of major corporations, universities and municipalities, including Siemens Corporation, Huntington Bank, Wayne State University and the city halls of Farmington and Farmington Hills, Michigan.

For more information visit Kegham's page.

Armine Vardanyan

Armine Arshakyan-Vardanyan displays notable talent in a wide range of artistic styles, both modern and more traditional. With her parents deceased and little family, she came to Mer Hooys Nakashian Children’s Support Center from a state orphanage in 2012, at the age of 14.

The First Lady of Armenia took note of Armine’s artistic talent when she toured the Nakashian Center in 2013, and helped Armine secure entrance to the Terlemezyan Fine Art College in Yerevan, Armenia, where Armine is continuing her studies.

For more information visit Armine's page.

Suren Vardanyan

An award-winning artist, Suren is from the mountainous village Zar in the Kotayk Province outside of Yerevan, Armenia.

A frequent participant in exhibitions in Armenia, he has won first prize on several occasions. Currently a student of the Yerevan State Academy of Fine Arts.

For more information visit Suren's page.

Sona Yeghiazaryan

Sona Yeghiazaryan is one of the most versatile and prolific young contemporary artists. She was born in Armenia in the town of Armavir. Sona started drawing when she was two years old and had two personal exhibitions in pre-school.

Later she continued her education in Fine Arts at the Hakob Kojoyan School and the Academy of Fine Arts in Yerevan, Armenia. She graduated Montclair State University with a Bachelor's degree in Art Education with a concentration in painting.

For more information visit Sona's page.

Armen Yepoyan

Armen Yepoyan is a graduate of fine art and architecture in his native Republic of Armenia. Since permanently relocating to the U.S. in 1994, he has exhibited extensively in galleries, museums and art centers nationwide, including 10 solo shows to date.

His work is part of private and public collections worldwide, including several corporate commissions, and has been featured in a number of art journals and publications including Art in America, Washington Times, and World & I.

Currently, he resides in Wynnewood, PA with his wife, Linda, and their three children, Soseh, Sevag and Serop.

For more information visit Armen's page.

Mary Zakarian

Mary Zakarian (b. 1927, Philadelphia, PA) was an active artist and teacher in the Philadelphia area for over fifty years. She studied at Moore College of Art and Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and exhibited her paintings in both Armenian and non-Armenian venues from 1960 to 2000.

Early in her career she worked in oil and pastel, later delving into in acrylic, watercolor, gouache, and even crayon. In 1971 Mary founded the Zakarian School of Art and for the next thirty-five years taught painting to hundreds of children and adults. Portraits were her specialty, and her body of work contains countless expressive depictions of people of all creeds and ethnicities.

Mary considers the painting entitled “My Mother’s Endless Lament” her most important achievement. Created shortly before her mother’s death in 1974, this painting depicts a circle of five views of Arek Zakarian, representing the endless and inescapable suffering of the genocide survivor. Mary Zakarian, who currently resides at St. Joseph’s Manor in Meadowbrook, is the subject of a book by Allan Arpajian and Susan Arpajian Jolley entitled Out of My Great Sorrows: The Armenian Genocide and Artist Mary Zakarian (Routledge, 2017).

Meet the Artists