Vahan Yervandyan

Vahan Yervandyan is an Armenian artist who specializes in abstract painting across various mediums, including ink, watercolor, and oil. Born and raised in the small village of Etchmiadzin, Armenia, he began painting at a young age when his father, Vanik Yervandyan, noticed his natural skill. In 1986, Vahan graduated from the State Academy of Fine Arts of Armenia with a Master’s degree in Fine Art and Painting. Following his graduation, he began selling his work at Vernissage, the popular flea market in the country’s capital, Yerevan.

In 1999, Vahan immigrated to the United States with his wife and two young daughters after winning a visa through the lottery. He continued to produce artwork and sold it through various local flea markets and by word of mouth. Vahan also pursued a bachelor’s degree in graphic design at Pratt College and completed freelance graphic artwork for various businesses. In 2013, he opened the Pasadena Art Studio, where he taught beginner and master-level art classes to children and adults. Following the pandemic in 2021, Vahan closed the studio to focus solely on his artwork. He has also contributed freelance work to Saint Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church in Pasadena, where his interpretation of “The Last Supper” is showcased in the main hall of the church.

Vahan’s abstract work is complex and emotional. He often tells viewers that every person can find something different in his work and that there is no single explanation of its contents. While oil paint is the prominent medium used in his work, Vahan enjoys experimenting with Indian ink, watercolor, and acrylics in his paintings. His work is alive with emotions that make you question the placement of each brushstroke and detail. In his youth, painting was an escape from the troubling times around him during pre- and post-Soviet-run Armenia. As an adult, it serves as a form of meditation, influenced by the teachings of philosopher and spiritual teacher George Gurdjieff. Vahan’s work is meant to be interpreted as the viewer chooses and only scratches the surface of the artist’s complex imagination and storytelling.