Biography of Karo ALEXANIAN

BIOGRAPHY

Born in 1956, Karo Alexanian moved to Quebec in 1997. A graduate of the Erevan School of Fine Arts in Armenia, he studied at the Studio of Painting and Graphic Arts in Moscow, as well.A member of the International Union of Artists since 1994, he has exhibited and sold his works in Europe, particularly Austria and Germany, as well as the United States and Canada. Karo’s work has been hanging in Galerie Valentin since the fall of 1999 and as well in Gevik Gallery in Toronto and in Galerie l’Harmattan in Baie-Saint-Paul since the spring of 2001.

THEMES / SUBJECTS

"The goal of my work is to reproduce what I observe, using simple lines, colour and texture. I have a particular passion for portrait work. When I am studying a subject, I tend to generalize the forms, to free up the essential and then transform it with gestures. I then try to bring the gestures together and make a link back to the conventional form, as in the portraits where the faces become masks but reflect the interior harmony of that person. I think of it as primitive contemporary. This is why I like large size paintings that look like something like the ancient Egyptian fresco’s, combined with the modern aspects of colour and different materials, oil, acrylic and even gypsum. I am always trying to incorporate a spiritual side to my work, as well, not simply technique, something I find strangely absent from a lot of modern art".

EXHIBITIONS

Spring 2013-2000 : Artists choice, group exhibition, Galerie Valentin, Montreal

Winter 2013-2000 : Small size works, group exhibition, Galerie Valentin, Montreal

2009 : Solo, Gevik Gallery, Toronto

2007 : Solo, Gevik Gallery, Toronto

Fall 2007 : Solo- New Works, Galerie Valentin, Montreal

Fall 2005 : Solo, Gevik Gallery, Toronto

Spring 2005 : Solo, Armenian Community Centre, Montreal

Winter 2007-1999 : Small Size Works, group exhibition, Galerie Valentin, Montreal

Fall 2004 : Solo, Galerie Valentin, Montreal

Spring 2003: Solo, Gevik Gallery, Toronto

Spring 2002: 1st solo, Gevik Gallery, Toronto

Fall 2000: 1st solo, Galerie Valentin, Montreal

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Télévision arménienne- Le monde arménien - programme culturel (Automne 2007)

Louise-Marie Bernard, "Karo Alexanian : abstracteur de quintessence", Parcours Art & Art de vivre,Vol. 13, no 2 (Automne 2007).

Télévision arménienne- programme culturel (Automne 2004)

Robert Bernier, "Karo Alexanian, l’Art et l’âme… ", Parcours, l’informateur des arts, Vol. 10, no. 3 (Automne 2004)

Horizon (hebdomadaire arménien), Vol. 1, no 29(479) (13 décembre 2004). Texte de l’article de Robert Bernier dans Parcours (Automne 2004).

24 heures, Vol. 4. no 164 (4 novembre 2004).

Jean Dumont, "Une étrangeté familière", Parcours, l’informateur des arts, Vol. 7, no. 3 (Été 2001)

COLLECTIONS

Midland Steel Ltd.
Sandalwood Management Inc.
Tietolman Trading Ltd.
Escada Boutique, Boston
SNC Lavalin
Ville de Montréal