Samvel Saghatelian on Corruption

Samvel Saghatelian (Sam Saga) was born in Soviet Armenia in 1958. He graduated from the Yerevan Institute of Architecture in 1980.
Saghatelian considers his entry into the field of contemporary art to be the beginning of the 90s, after collapse of the USSR when his right hand was broken due to a car accident and he started practicing drawings with his left hand for about a month, which became a turning point and opened few different directions of paintings and mixed media projects.

In the past two decades Saghatelian’s artistic explorations have been expressed through a multiplicity of styles, mediums and content. Some of his early works have been inspired by the tension between the pursuit of an Armenian identity in its post-independence existence and the simultaneous attempt to challenge its heritage. “Contradictions are inseparable to human existence. They are everywhere: in my nature, in the family I grew up and in the society I lived in.”
In 2001 Saghatelian was one of the artists representing the Armenian pavilion in the 49th Venice Biennale in Italy (Plateau of Humankind). In 2002 he was awarded a Fellowship for ArtsLink/Vermont Studio Center in Vermont, USA (the largest international artists' and writers' Residency Program in the United States) and had his first solo exhibition there. Very much attracted to the US art scene, Samvel Saga-Saghatelian moved to Los Angeles.
Then He started a period of activity in Los Angeles, where in addition to appearing as an artist in various galleries (Coagula Curatorial, La Luz de Jesus gallery, Aqua Art Miami 2009, Bruce Lurie Gallery, Bleicher Gallery, LA Art show, Garboushian gallery, Centro Arti Visive “Pescheria” in Italy and etc.),with his wife they founded the Black Maria Gallery, which was very successful in the Los Angeles art scene, having several times selected by LA WEEKLY magazine pic of the week exhibition.
In addition to being a curator at the Black Maria Gallery and appearing as an artist in various galleries, He also has collaborated with well-known companies such as: V Moda, Will I Am production, HUSTLER magazine and etc.
Living in the United States, He has actively participated in Armenian art life, held solo exhibitions, and participated in group exhibitions.
Should be especially noted “Borderline Reality” - 2014, “Love is actually Electric”- 2016, “Inside of the Presidential suite” – 2018. The “Borderline Reality” exhibition in Armavir Penitentiary Institution in 2014, was marked Human Rights day and supported by OSCE office In Yerevan, with involving of inmates from 3 different facilities.
He’s been living and creating in Armenia since 2015 and actively involved in the events of the Armenian art field.
Saghatelian describes the political situation in region as “stretched, unpredictable, monster, dark, crazy, communicative………some big and important changes happening here and it’s inspiring me….”