Sirak Melkonian
Biography
Sirak Melkonian is considered to be one of the founders of the Iranian-Armenian modern art movement, and is a true pioneer of Iranian modernism.
Melkonian is well known for his abstract paintings, often of a topographical nature, but began his career, like many other painters, using figuration as his primary stylistic trait in his drawings, prints and paintings. He then began experimenting with other Iranian modernists, as a reaction to the older generation of Iranian artists.
His figurative works drew attention to his art and brought him the Imperial Court Prize at the Tehran Biennale in 1958 for his works, including his linocuts. His figurative works were appreciated and found at the Paris Biennale (1959), Venice Biennale (1958), after he had previously won the Contemporary Iranian Artist Exhibition of the Iran American Society (1957).
In the early 1960’s Melkonian began focusing more specifically towards abstraction in his work, and became a leading figure in the Iranian art scene, due to his successes at home and internationally. In 1961, Melkonian was part of the exhibition hosted at Saderat Bank in Tehran (alongside, Marcos Grigorian, Bijan Saffari, Sohrab Sepehri, Manucher Sheybani and Parviz Tanavoli) which drew the support and attention of Iranian arts patron Abby Grey.
Melkonian founded the Azad Art Group in the early 1970’s, with some other important artists living and working in Iran at the time. They were introduced formally at the Tehran International Art Fair in 1974, pushing the boundaries and understanding of conceptual art and installation works in Iran.
Sirak Melkonian has exhibited his work in over 140 exhibitions worldwide, from Tehran to Paris, New York to Yerevan. His works can be found in major public and private international collections; such as the Niavaran Palace, TMoCA, and LACMA.
Exhibitions
- 1950Group annual show, Iran-USSR Society, Tehran
1954Group show, "Contemporary Artists Show", Mehregan Club, Tehran
1956Group show, "Contemporary Iranian Artists Show", Abiaz Palace, Tehran
1957Group show, "Contemporary Iranian Artists Show", Iran-America Society, Tehran
1957Solo show, Estetic Gallery, Tehran
1958Group show, Venice Biennial, Iranian Artists Section, Italy
1958Group show, "Contemporary Artists Show", Abiaz Palace, Tehran
1959Group show, Paris Biennial, Iranian Artists Section, Paris
1961Group show, "Contemporary Artists of Iran", Headquarter of Saderat Bank, Tehran
1962Solo show, Iran-India Culture Relation Society, Tehran
1965Group show, "The 50th Anniversary of the April 24", Saba Gallery, Tehran
1966Travelling show, "Contemporary Iranian Artists",
1967Group Show, "Contemporary Iranian Artists Show", New York
1971Group Show, "Contemporary Iranian Artists Show", Pakistan
1973Group Show, "Contemporary Iranian Artists Show", West Germany
1973Solo Show, "Zarvan Gallery", Tehran
1974Selected works show of "Contemporary Iranian Artists for the Occasion of F. Pahlavi's Birthday", Seihoon Gallery, Tehran
1974Group show, Azad Artists Group, International show of Iran-France, Tehran
1974Group show, "Contemporary Iranian Artists Show", The 3rd Art and Culture Gallery, Tehran
1974Group show, "Contemporary Artists Show for the Occasion of Asian Games 1974", Art Culture Gallery, Tehran
1974Group show, "Annual Show of Contemporary Iranian Artists", Ministry of Art & Culture, Tehran
1975"Retrospective Show" of Iranian Artists, Iran-America Society, Tehran
1975Group show, "International Show", Basel
1975Second show of Azad Group, Art and Culture Gallery, Tehran
1975Selected works of Iranian and international artists, Saman Gallery, Tehran
1976Solo show, Odermatt Gallery, Paris
Solo show, Odermatt Gallery, Paris
1976Group show, The 5th Show of Azad Group, Saman Gallery, Tehran
1976Group show, Selected works of Iranian and international artists, Saman Gallery, Tehran
1977International show, Wash Art 77 Contemporary, Washington
1977FIAC 77 Art Contemporain, Grand Palais, Paris
1977Show of "Contemporary Artists", De Montrouge Hall, Paris
1977Show of "Contemporary Artists", Zand Gallery, Tehran
1978Solo show, Zand Gallery, Tehran
1981Solo show, Athen
1983Solo show, Gorky Gallery, New York
1986Solo show, PM Collection, Los Angeles
1987Solo show, Studio Café, New Port
1990Group show, "Iranian Artists", Paris
1990Group show, "A Collection of Artworks by Canadian-Armenian Artists", Montreal & Ottawa
1995Group show, "Contemporary American Artists Show", Baghoomian Gallery, New York
1995Show of "Canadian Artists", AGBU Centre, Toronto
1997"Arvest 97" Contemporary Armenian Artists Show, Central Library, Los Angles
1997Solo show, AMV Graphic Organisation, Toronto
1999Group show, "Nature in Iran's Contemporary Painting", Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, Tehran
2000Show of "Contemporary Iranian Artists", Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, Tehran
2000Show of "Canadian-Armenian Artists", Canada & USA
2001Solo show, Bay Side Gallery, USA
2003Show of "Canadian Contemporary Artists", Arta Gallery, Toronto
2004"A Selection of Iranian Contemporary Art over Three Generations", Armenian National Gallery, Yerevan
2004Solo show, Arshel Gorky Art Gallery, Toronto
2004Group show, Lazar Gallery, Tehran
2004Group show, Arta Gallery, Toronto
2006Group show, "To the Memory of Momayez", University of Tehran, Tehran
2006Solo show, Mah Art Gallery, Tehran
2006Show of Iranian Contemporary Painters, "East of Imagination", Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art
2007Show of contemporary Iranian artists , Tehran
2009Group painting show, Mah Art Gallery, Tehran
2010Group painting show, Mah Art Gallery, Tehran
2011Group show, Mah Art Gallery, Tehran
2013Group painting show, Mah Art Gallery, Tehran
2015Solo Show, "Sirak Melkonian’s Seven Decades of Painting", Ab-Anbar Gallery, Tehran
2015Solo show, "Sirak Melkonian’s Seven Decades of Painting", Aria Art Gallery, Tehran
2015Group show, "Show by Pioneers of Visual Arts ", Art Centre Gallery, Tehran
2016Group show, Sohrab Art Gallery, Tehran
2016Group show, "Group Show by Iranian Masters", E1 Art Gallery, Tehran
2017Group show, "Special Sale of Shams Art Gallery Collection & Iranian Contemporary Artist's Works",
2017Group show, "Fifty-Year: Works by 50+5 Artists", Seyhoun Art Gallery, Tehran
2018Group show, "Free Sale", Tarahane Azad Gallery, Tehran
2018Group show, "100 works 100 artists", Golestan Gallery, Tehran
2018Group show, "Painting Show", White Line Gallery, Tehran
2018Group show, "Shabtab 4", Azad Gallery, Tehran
2019Group show, "Summer Show ", Mah Art Gallery, Tehran
2019Group show, "Iran Print", Meem Gallery, Dubai
2019Group show, "2018 Collection Selling", Haan Gallery, Shiraz
2019Group show, "10 - 20 - 30", Azad Art Gallery, Tehran
2019Group show, "Negar Masterpieces", Negar Gallery, Tehran
2020Group show, "Connoisseur's Look", Negar Gallery, Tehran