The project aims to rediscover, reassess, and reintegrate Armenian modern and contemporary art into the global cultural dialogue through a multifaceted approach encompassing exhibitions, educational initiatives, and international collaborations.

The work of international figures like Arshile Gorky (1904-98), Ara Guler.(1928-2018) Paul Guiragossian (1926-93), Yousef Karsh (1908-2002) Sergei Paradjanov (1924-90) and Minas Avetisyan (1928-75) have never been presented together in one coherent project to explain Armenian art in the modern period to a non-Armenian audience.  The evolution of Armenian Art from Modern to its contemporary practices  deserves to be put in the context of the more recent developments in global contemporary art because of its distinctiveness and particular qualities setting it apart from mainstream Western European Modernism.

Gerardo Oragian
In a Café

The project seeks to conduct a robust reassessment of the current and future reputation of practitioners in Armenian modern and contemporary art, evaluating the aesthetic and economic value of their work while addressing issues related to the visibility of Armenian art.

The team’s ambition is to grow the project internationally in the medium term, with further editions of the exhibition, a substantial web presence to host academic texts and the  commissioning of artist’s monographs.

We wish to do this in order to galvanise the art world into action by making it aware that Armenian art has been largely omitted from the twentieth century cultural canon.The impact of the resuscitation of twentieth century Armenian art on the reputation of its past and current practitioners will, we believe, be positive. The scholarly enquiries into different forms of practice in the twentieth century will lead to a renaissance in traditional art forms.

Paul Guiragossian
The Funeral Of Abdel Nasser

Hendrik Khachatryan
Sev(object)

It also aims to establish and encourage a more interconnected cultural dialogue between Armenia and the international community. By showcasing the achievements of Armenian artists and promoting their work internationally, the project contributes to the broader goal of raising the profile of Armenia and create a new level of engagement with Armenia’s cultural identity

This project, in short, sets its sights at redefining the world view of Armenian art.

Project Activities

• Research and Educational component: Research, Presentations, Talks, Conferences, Workshops
• Publishing component: Catalogue and Monographs on specific aspects and periods
• Exhibitions: Exhibitions of contemporary Armenian artists; Retrospective Exhibition of Armenian Modern and Contemporary Art
• Digital Component: Digitalization of Armenian Art

Key stakeholders:

Institute For Contemporary Art (ICA) Yerevan, offering institutional support and academic expertise, particularly curator and art critic Nazareth Karoyan

The ARTIS research center of the School of Arts and Humanities of the University of Lisbon, providing institutional support, academic expertise, and essays for the catalogue and exhibition, particularly professors Luís U. Afonso, Pedro Lapa Institute of History of Georgian Art (IHGA), covering Armenian artists from Georgia and providing academic expertise and contributions on Armenian Modern Artists working in the Tiflis School, Georgia, particularly M. Medzmariashvili – Chief Researcher

Armenia Art Fair providing the project Implementation, establishing the structural groundwork for the project

More information coming soon