Modern Art Museum of Yerevan
Address: 7, Mesrop Mashtots Ave., Yerevan
Phone: (+374 10) 53-53-59
Working hours: Tuesday-Sunday from 11:00 a.m. till 06:00 p.m.
Closed: on Monday
Modern Art Museum of Yerevan is a small gallery replete with the artwork of Armenian painters and sculptors which date from the 1960s to the early 21st century. With its touching, humorous and downright brilliant pieces, this hidden gem is an extraordinary find for art enthusiasts.
History of the Modern Art Museum of Yerevan
Modern Art Museum of Yerevan has been delighting guests since 1972. Inspiration for its creation came from Armenian painter Henrik Igityan (1932-2009), who had a dream of establishing a museum in Armenia devoted to modern art. Igityan is credited both with initiating the project and with ensuring its ongoing success. The artist received special support in turning his dream into reality by Grigor Hasratyan, mayor of Yerevan in the 1960s-70s.
Henrik Igityan became the museum’s first director and continued to work at the gallery for nearly four decades. At that time, artists in the Soviet Union were expected to adhere to the doctrine of Socialist Realism. As Modern Art Museum of Yerevan was the first museum dedicated to representing avant-garde and progressive artwork, a sector not endorsed by the Soviet government, the museum did not receive any government funding and was maintained solely by the contributions of artists and patrons.
Some visitors to Modern Art Museum in Yerevan claim that it is a chronological continuation of the Armenian Painting Department of the National Gallery. Contemporary artists of the 1960s were the first to have their work showcased at the museum, and over time the museum's collection was extended to include contributions from 1980s artists. Today, Modern Art Museum of Yerevan continues to evolve as the Armenian diaspora from around the world actively contributes to its ongoing development.
Exhibitions
Reportedly the first modern art museum in the Caucasus, Modern Art Museum of Yerevan is well worth a visit if you are touring Yerevan and have some time to spare.
Visitors to the museum are often struck by the diversity of Armenia’s modern and contemporary art. Among the most admired works are the masterpieces of prominent Armenian painter Minas Avetisyan, including "Expectation", his most notable work at the museum. His lively paintings, which typically focus on nature, religion and people in need, are both colorful and emotive.
Another well-known Armenian painter whose works are exhibited in the museum is Haroutiun Galentz. Although this resilient man lived through the Armenian genocide, his pain and sorrow are scarcely noticeable in his landscapes and still lifes which are infused with light and positivity. French-Armenian painter Jean Carzou, whose works illustrate the novels of Ernest Hemingway, also donated some of his paintings to the museum, and his 1974 work entitled "Red Room" is an especially captivating piece.
Other notable works at the museum are "Away to the Foreign Land" by Hakob Ananikyan, "The Urartu Temple" by Artashes Hounanyan and "Performance" by Armen Gevorgyan. Newer artists represented in the museum include Taline Zabounian, Onik Atamyan and Harutyun Jinanyan with his famous painting "Jino".
Modern Art Museum of Yerevan is located on the ground floor of a high-rise building at 7 Mashtots Avenue, just a 15-minute walk from Republic Square. Exhibitions are very well organized in three large halls, with paintings and unique sculptures displayed in easy-to-access areas.