BIRTH OF VAGHARSHAK ELIBEKIAN

Painter Vagharshak Elibekian reconstructed the picturesque image of old Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, in his art. He founded a dynasty of artists: his sons Henry and Robert also became painters.

He was born in Tiflis (Tbilisi) on August 23, 1910. He studied at the art studio attached to the House of Armenian Art, directed by G. Sharbabchian, in 1925-1927. He was director of the Armenian Youth Theater of Tbilisi (1936–1956) and he was also chairman of its artistic council and stage designer. He earned the title of Emeritus Figure of Culture of Georgia (1968). He moved in 1970 to Yerevan, where he passed away on May 5, 1994.

He had solo exhibitions in Yerevan, Tbilisi, London, and Los Angeles, and participated in numerous exhibitions in Armenia, other countries of the Soviet Union, and abroad. The central theme of his painting was the detailed representation of old Tbilisi. He moved to Yerevan in 1974 and published the albums Ode to Old Tbilisi (1979) and Vagharshak Elibekian (1991).

His works are held in the Museum of Contemporary Art (Yerevan), the National Gallery of Armenia (Yerevan), the Museum of Literature and Art (Yerevan), the National Gallery of Georgia (Tbilisi), and other galleries, as well as numerous private collections in Armenia and abroad.