PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Sisters Academy
440 Upper Gulph Road
Radnor, PA 19087
Contact: Susan Pogharian
Tel: 610-757-7090
Fax: 610-687-2450
E-mail: SPogharian@asaphila.org
Web:
YEPOYAN TO EXHIBIT AT PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART
Armenian Cultural Day Celebrated as Part of Gorky Retrospective
In the early 1990s when Armenian artist Armen Yepoyan saw the
masterpieces of his fellow countryman, Vosdanig Manoog Adoian (Arshile
Gorky), on display at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, for
the first time, he was awe struck and inspired. Immediately he found
himself absorbed by the mixture of forms, inventive lines, intensity and
tenderness of Gorky’s drawings and paintings. Yepoyan experienced an
over-whelming sense of pride as well, based alone on the fact that the
Armenian Genocide survivor and self-taught artist became such an
influential figure in modern art history.
A loyal follower of Gorky’s art ever since, Yepoyan attended every
single museum and gallery exhibition of his works along the East coast.
In Gorky, he found a mentor and powerful source of inspiration, and one
who shared the same background, as Yepoyan’s maternal grandfather was
also from Van. During his ten years of residence in the nation’s
capital, Yepoyan’s visits to the museums were frequent, and he would
often find himself spending hours in front of his favorite Gorky
drawings and paintings. It was at this time that Yepoyan’s own career
as an artist in the US began to take off, with his abstract series in
particular showing a heavy influence of Gorky’s art.
It was this influence that lead to an invitation from the Philadelphia
Museum of Art, asking Yepoyan to exhibit his artwork as part of an event
running alongside the Arshile Gorky: a Retrospective exhibition,
currently running through January 10, 2010. The museum wants to
incorporate Yepoyan in a special `Armenian Cultural Day’ event
taking place on Sunday, December 6, 2009, giving Yepoyan an especially
meaningful opportunity to have his own artwork presented in conjunction
with his master’s show. `When I got the call, I immediately
thought what a wonderful and unique opportunity I’ve been given, to be
associated with my favorite artist’, admits Yepoyan.
These days, Yepoyan is no stranger to the museum or to the Armenian
community of Philadelphia, having moved to the city’s suburbs five
years ago with his family for one major reason – to send his children
to the Armenian Sisters Academy in Radnor, PA. Its reputation for
academic excellence, enriched by Armenian language and culture, made the
relocation an easy decision for the artist and his wife. It also opened
another door for Yepoyan: to mentor and inspire others creatively –
his mentorees now fondly referred to as his 1st – 8th grade students.
When Armen Yepoyan joined the faculty of the Armenian Sisters Academy as
the new art teacher three years ago, very few families and students knew
what they were in store for. But students soon came to enjoy the
soothing music and relaxed atmosphere in his sunny classroom. Expressing
their creativity comes easily thanks to Yepoyan’s style and approach,
which allow his students a small reprieve in their structured day. `I
try to create an environment that will allow our students to be
motivated and excited about art, a place where they are able to express
there feelings, emotions and thoughts through their art’ explains
Yepoyan. `Of course, this past month leading up to the retrospective
exhibition, I’ve done my best to impart the appreciation and pride I
have for Gorky’s work upon my students. The halls of our school are
adorned with their renditions of his masterpieces, as our very own
`Ode to Arshile Gorky’ exhibition’, he adds. Yepoyan’s artwork
can be viewed by visiting To learn more about the
Armenian Sisters Academy, see
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