Ruben Shahverdyan: Ornamental Tales

The exhibition explores the creative legacy of Ruben Shahverdyan (1900–1976), showcasing a unique blend of Oriental sensuality, Armenian iconographic traditions, and modern formal thinking. A student of Yeghishe Tadevosyan and an opera singer, Shahverdyan made music a recurring theme throughout his visual art. The display features early paintings and graphic works depicting stylized figures of kintos, merchants, and musicians, alongside his decorative interpretations of social themes. A significant portion of the exhibition is dedicated to Shahverdyan’s ceramics. Following his move to Armenia in 1941, he deeply studied national architecture and miniatures, eventually developing a signature style through innovative clay and terracotta firing techniques that defined his later career.