Sirak Melkonian, deemed a key figure in the modern art movement and a key founder of Iranian modernism, has left an indelible mark on the realm of art. At the outset of his career, much like numerous artists, he embraced figuration as the predominant stylistic element in his drawings, prints, and paintings. Subsequently, he delved into experimentation alongside fellow Iranian modernists, marking a response to the artistic conventions of the older generation in Iran.
Born in Tehran in 1930, Melkonian's artistic journey commenced as a self-taught artist, initially crafting portraits of family members. His repertoire expanded, culminating in a showcase at the Armenian "Mshagouyt" Centre at the age of 16, marking him as the youngest rising artist in the community.
Venturing to the “Academia di Belle Arti di Roma” in Italy for higher artistic education, Melkonian found the allure of institutional academia lacking, prompting a return to Tehran.
In 1957, the Gallery Esthétique, founded by Marcos Grigorian, curated two of his inaugural solo exhibition, introducing “Linocut Engraved Prints” to the Iranian art scene, leaving a significant mark and gaining unexpected popularity. National recognition followed, with awards such as the Contemporary Iranian Artist Award and the Special Imperial Court Prize at the Tehran Biennial. International platforms beckoned, with Melkonian participation at the 1958 Venice Biennale in Italy and the 1959 Paris Biennale in France.
The early 1960s witnessed Melkonian's shift towards abstraction, propelling him into prominence within the Iranian art scene. Notable achievements, including an outstanding role in the Kali exhibition in 1961, further solidified his status as a key figure. In the early 1970s, Melkonian played a pivotal role as a founding member of the "Azad Art Group," challenging artistic boundaries and reshaping perceptions at the Tehran International Art Fair in 1974.
Key exhibitions in Basel, Switzerland (1975), Salon de Montrouge in Paris and the Washington International Art-fair in 1977 marked Melkonian's global reach. Another significant turning point in Melkonian's life came in 1981 when he immigrated to Canada following a brief sojourn in Greece. The shift in his living environment, from his journey to settling in Canada, left an indelible mark on his painting style that resonates to this day. Continuing his artistic journey predominantly in the U.S., Melkonian showcased his work in solo exhibits at Gorky Gallery in New York (1983), PM Collection in Los Angeles (1986), and Studio Cafe in Newport California (1987).
Melkonian's artworks have found homes in prestigious private collections and exhibited in over 140 forums worldwide, from Tehran to Paris, New York to Yerevan, London to Los Angeles. These include Victoria Albert Museum in London, Grand Palais in Paris, Kerman MoCA, TMoCA and Bank Pasargad, Museum of Contemporary Visual Arts in Tehran and LACMA in California.
Esteemed art critic Alain Bosquet noted Melkonian's impact, stating, "Three or four times per generation—not more—a painter arises, who immediately appeals to us”.
“This is the power exercised over us today, by Sirak Melkonian.”
