Marbled Glass Series 2

In this series, I've continued my interpretation of the ornamental reliefs that adorn medieval Armenian architecture combined with the techniques I have learned in my career as a sign and mural painter, where I utilize bright colors and gold leaf to invigorate the public sphere.

The graphic patterns are painted in oil based enamel on glass and gilded with 23k gold leaf. They are sourced from the drawings of Armen Kyurkchyan, who graphically renders Armenian ornamental art, including stone carvings on tombstones, monasteries, and other buildings and monuments throughout historic Armenia. (Kyurkchyan, Armen. Armenian Ornamental Art. Craftology, 2012.)

The vivid colors are achieved by marbling, a process where oil based enamel paint is floated on top of water and then transferred to glass by dipping. The colors are an homage to my career as a sign painter and public artist, where my partner and I (as Best Dressed Signs) have painted a series of murals around Boston using an impressionistic application of bright colors with contrasting black graphic shapes or letterforms.

The fluid, vibrant, and whimsical nature of the marbled colors contrasts with the rigidity of the architectural ornaments and the regality of gold leaf, which recalls the ancient Kingdom of Armenia. The juxtaposition of these elements emphasizes the tenacity of diasporic culture through resilience and adaptability. Using glass as a painting surface evokes the fragility of marginalized cultures in an increasingly authoritarian world.

These pieces help reconnect me to my heritage, while simultaneously rooting me in my present-day life as a working artist. The recent and continued destruction of historic Armenian cultural and religious sites compels the preservation of these architectural treasures in the diaspora. By reinterpreting the visual history of my ancestral homeland, I weave preservation and creation, honoring the monuments of my ancestry with vibrancy and hope for a better future.