The Sirak Melkonian Foundation established in 2019 under the direct guidance of artist and designer Sirak Melkonian (1930-2024), was created to honour and preserve his enduring legacy. The Foundation’s board is composed of those closest to the artist, his two sons and his daughter-in-law, whose intimate knowledge of his life and work has shaped this mission. Since its inception, the Foundation has embarked on an intensive research journey throughout the world in order to locate, catalogue, acquire and restore artworks and archival documents by and about Sirak Melkonian.
Today, the Foundation proudly maintains an extensive database featuring hundreds of artworks, complete with detailed provenance and current location records. It has also assembled a rich archive of materials—including photographs, exhibition reviews, catalogues, personal letters, manuscripts, and audio-visual recordings—that span Sirak Melkonian’s prolific career. This extensive and invaluable collection is available upon request to students, scholars, and curators seeking to deepen their understanding of the artist’s extraordinary contributions to the art world.
Building on these accomplishments, the Foundation is now preparing for its next landmark endeavour: the publication of a comprehensive Catalogue Raisonné, documenting the entirety of Sirak Melkonian’s oeuvre. This pivotal project will safeguard the artist’s work against imitations, particularly in light of his growing acclaim and prominence in the international art market.
Despite the significant progress made by the Foundation, much work remains to be realized.
These ongoing initiatives are critical to ensuring that Sirak Melkonian’s legacy continues to flourish, and they represent only the first steps in a broader effort to sustain the memory and impact of this pioneering artist from the Middle East, who later on made North America his second home, alive.
