Ruben Manukyan

Ruben Manukyan was born July 2, 1940 in Yerevan, Armenia. He graduated from the P. Terlemezyan State College of Fine Arts in 1960 and continued his studies at the Institute of Art and Theater, graduating in 1965. From 1962 to 1980, he served as head of the illustration department for the Avangard newspaper. During this period, he held his first solo exhibition in Beirut, followed by two additional one-man shows and a group exhibition in Kjoln, Germany.
Manukyan’s works blend clear lines and vibrant colors with optimism, purity and fantasy. Drawing upon decorative abstraction, he creates atmospheres that are simultaneously serious, playful and free. Many of his paintings capture the elegance of the female form with vivid, expressive tones that transport viewers to fairy-tale realms filled with exotic creatures and familiar features. He credits the Armenian sun, trees, flowers and mountains as influences on his distinctive palette.
His creative works have been exhibited worldwide, including shows in Canada, the United States and Europe, notably the 1998 Art-Expo International in Los Angeles. His art resides in the Republic of Armenia Ministry of Culture Fund, galleries throughout Bulgaria, Lithuania, Moscow and Armenia, and private collections globally. He has also illustrated children’s books published in numerous languages, including the widely-used Armenian alphabet book Native Source. Manukyan received diplomas from the National Exhibition in 1962 and in Adis-Abeba, Ethiopia in 1987. He is an honored artist of the Republic of Armenia and is represented by Park West Gallery.