SAMVEL SAGHATELIAN
Artist
SAMVEL SAGHATELIAN
Artist
Country:Armenia
Samvel Saghatelian (Sam Saga), born in Soviet Armenia in 1958, graduated from the Yerevan Institute of Architecture in 1980. His journey into contemporary art began in the 1990s after a car accident left his right hand injured, leading him to explore drawing with his left hand, which opened new artistic directions.
Over the past two decades, Saghatelian's artistic endeavors have spanned various styles and mediums, reflecting on themes such as Armenian identity and societal contradictions. He represented Armenia at the 49th Venice Biennale in 2001 and later moved to Los Angeles, where he became active in the art scene and co-founded the successful Black Maria Gallery with his wife.
In addition to his gallery work, Saghatelian has collaborated with notable companies and remained involved in Armenian art, holding solo exhibitions and participating in group shows. Notable exhibitions include "Borderline Reality" (2014), "Love is actually Electric" (2016), "Inside of the Presidential suite" (2018), and "The Bunker of Authoritarianism" (2023).
Since 2015, Saghatelian has been living and creating in Armenia, actively participating in the country's contemporary art scene. He describes the political situation in the region as unpredictable yet inspiring, reflecting the changes happening around him.
WORKS WITH AKN