Ara Bekaryan

Ara Vaghinag Bekaryan (May 30, 1913 – June 18, 1986) was an Armenian painter, graphic, pedagogue, and USSR portrait artist. He was born in Afyonkarahisar, Turkey to a family of educators.

Biography

 * In 1932, Bekaryan graduated from Yerevan's Geghard College with Vahram Gayfejyan and Sedrak Arakelyan
 * In 1939, Bekaryan graduated from the Russian Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg
 * From 1939 to 1945 he joined the Russo-Finnish wars and World War II
 * From 1945 to 1986 he lectured at Yerevan State Academy of Fine Arts and the Yerevan State Institute of Theatre and Cinematography
 * In 1964, a professor
 * Exhibition in 1930
 * Individual exhibitions in 1947 (Yerevan), 1964 (Yerevan), 1964 (Moscow)
 * Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic distinguished artist in 1945
 * Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic portrait artist in 1965

Work

 * Close to the Swing
 * Florists
 * Ashtarak
 * Oshakan
 * Rest
 * Vahan Terian's portrait
 * "Nazar the Brave" book design
 * "Nairi's World" book design
 * Hagop Baronian's work designs

In memory
The Central Bank of Armenia has released a silver coin in tribute to Ara Bekaryan's 100th birthday. The face of the coin has a picture representing an episode of "Ashtarak" canvas, the reverse portrait depicts Ara Bekaryan and "Nazar the Brave" fairy tale illustration.

Literature

 * Маня Казарян "Ара Бекарян" Советский художник 1976 г. Москва (Rus.)
 * Daniel Dznuni's "Armenian Visual Artists" - 1977, Yerevan
 * Manya Ghazaryan's "Ara Bekaryan" - 1984, Yerevan