Samvel Saghatelian
Navigating Contradictions and Unveiling Boundless Expressions in Contemporary Art
Samvel Saghatelian, known by his artistic pseudonym Sam Saga, traces his artistic journey back to the momentous era of the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991. Born in Soviet Armenia in 1958, Saghatelian’s path toward contemporary art took an unexpected turn following a debilitating car accident that rendered his dominant hand unusable. Embracing adversity as an opportunity, he ventured into the realm of left-handed drawing, a pivotal juncture that ignited an array of innovative directions in painting and mixed media.
Over the past two decades, Saghatelian has fearlessly delved into a multitude of styles, mediums, and thematic content. His earlier works reflect the interplay between the quest for an authentic Armenian identity in the wake of independence and a simultaneous desire to challenge its historical legacy. “Contradictions are inseparable from human existence. They are ubiquitous: in my nature, in my upbringing, and in the society I inhabit,” he asserts.
In 2001, Saghatelian represented the Armenian pavilion at the 49th Venice Biennale in Italy, showcasing his profound artistic vision on the global stage. Following this, a Fellowship for ArtsLink/Vermont Studio Center in Vermont, USA, provided him with the opportunity for his inaugural solo exhibition, solidifying his presence within the international art community. Fascinated by the vibrant art scene in the United States, Sam Saga-Saghatelian eventually relocated to Los Angeles.
During his time in Los Angeles, Saghatelian co-founded the influential Black Maria Gallery alongside his wife, contributing significantly to the city’s dynamic art landscape. His works have graced numerous esteemed galleries such as 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 more. Additionally, his collaborations with renowned entities like V Moda, Will I Am production, and HUSTLER magazine underscore his versatile and boundary-pushing artistic ethos.
Despite his global engagements, Saghatelian maintains a close connection to his Armenian roots, actively participating in the country’s art scene through solo and group exhibitions. Notably, his exhibition “Borderline Reality” at the Armavir Penitentiary Institution in 2014, commemorating Human Rights Day, garnered support from the OSCE office in Yerevan, involving inmates from three different facilities.
Since 2015, Saghatelian has resided in Armenia, wholeheartedly immersing himself in the country’s artistic narrative while remaining attuned to the region’s ever-evolving political landscape. His perspective on the tumultuous political climate resonates in his work, infusing it with a sense of urgency and introspection, as he grapples with the complexities of a changing world
HERO AND FEMININE
Reality can be unbearably uncomfortable, especially during periods of national change. In such times, everything familiar is dismantled and reassembled in unfamiliar ways. What once seemed ordinary vanishes or becomes a hollow echo of its former self.
In the 1990s, during Armenia's uncertain transition after the collapse of the USSR, artist Samvel Saghatelian created two pivotal series: “Grotesque Reality” and “Metamorphoses”. One series tackled reality by amplifying its harshness, while the other sought to transform it.
In Grotesque Reality, Saghatelian exaggerated the world to such an extreme that reality crumbled under its own weight, contradictions, and ugliness. In contrast, Metamorphoses reshaped reality into something fantastical, almost like a fairy tale.
This exhibition brings together these two significant series to explore how the artist navigated and survived one of the most complex periods in Armenia’s history, developing two radically different artistic approaches that he continues to evolve today.
— Ella Kanegarian, 2019
Reach Out to Us Today
Contact us if you are interested in having an art piece by Samvel Saghatelian or another contemporary artist of YBAF