1956 Born in Gyumri, Armenia
1969 Studied at the School of Fine Arts, Gyumri, Armenia
1975 Graduated from Panos Terlemezian Fine Art College, Yerevan, Armenia
2008 Received the title of ‘Honored Artist of Republic of Armenia’
Since 1978, Hamalbashyan has participated in several national and international exhibitions in Yerevan, Japan, Germany, Lebanon, and France and has had solo exhibitions in Basel, London, Los Angeles, Nicosia and Paris. His paintings are displayed globally in several public buildings including the Modern Art Museum of Armenia and are in private collections around the world.
In the 1980's Hamalbashyan emerged as one of the leading young artists who began to challenge the Soviet norms. His work carried the imprint of the Italian early Renaissance, Russian iconography, the Russian new avant-garde, Armenian miniature painting and current developments in post-modern art in Armenia. During the post Soviet period, Hamalbashyan emerged as one of the most important artists working in Armenia.
Group Exhibitions:
2014 ‘Step between transforming and forming’, Artists Union, Yerevan, Armenia
2014 Contemporary Art, Istanbul Turkey
2014 “Selected Art Works 2014”, Vienna Austria
2014 “Beauty in the Palm”, Beirut Lebanon
2013 Representing Arame Art Gallery in Las Vegas, USA
2013 "Sensual Revelations", Beirut, Lebanon
2013 AGBU Contemporary Armenian Art, Pasadena, USA
2013 Selected Art Works, Beirut Lebanon
2013 10th Anniversary of Arame Art Gallery, Yerevan, Armenia
2012 Los Angeles Fine Art Show, Los Angeles, USA
2012 Armenian Art Exhibition in Connecticut University, Connecticut, USA
2012 "In Search for Paradise", New Figurative Art of Armenia, Pesaro, Italy
2012 "Symphony of Colors", Beirut, Lebanon
2012 Grand Opening of a New Art Center of Arame Art Gallery, Yerevan, Armenia
2011 Contemporary ?stanbul 2011 Art Fair, ?stanbul, Turkey
2011 UNESCO Palace, Beirut, Lebanon
2010 New Masterpieces of Arame Gallery, Yerevan, Armenia
2010 Art Center of Haigazian University, Beirut, Lebanon
2004 Still-life at Arame Art Gallery, Yerevan, Armenia
2004 Fourth International Biennial, Gyumri, Armenia
2004 International Artexpo, New York, USA
2002 Art of Nations, Moscow, Russia
2001 Contemporary Armenian Art, National Gallery of Armenia, Yerevan, Armenia
2000 International Exhibition Third Millennium Figures Of the Future, at the Pontifical Council for Culture, Vatican
2000 Second International Biennial, Gyumri, Armenia
1999 Three Tendencies, Hay-Art Center, Yerevan, Armenia
1999 On the Eve of the 21st Century, Artists House, Yerevan, Armenia
1999 With Many Voices Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago, USA
1998 First International Biennial, Gyumri, Armenia
1998 Dreams and Visions, Chicago, USA
1998 International Artexpo, New York, USA
1997 London Contemporary Art Fair, London, UK
1997 Works on Paper, Charlie Khatchatrian Gallery, Yerevan, Armenia
1996 6th Arrondissement Municipal Gallery, Paris, France
1996 Palais de Justice, Poitiers, France
1996 The Arsenal, Metz, France
1995 Artists of Armenia and the Diaspora Cite des Beaux Arts, Paris, France
1995 Contemporary Art from Armenia 80-95, Central House of Artists, Moscow, Russia
1995 Stream of Fire, European Cultural Month, Nicosia, Cyprus
1995 Armenia: The Rediscovery of Land of Ancient Culture at Bochum Museum, Bochum, Germany
1994 Yerevan Landscape, Gallery Ex-Voto, Yerevan, Armenia
1994 Personal Icon, Gallery Ex-Voto, Yerevan, Armenia
1993 Beyond Idiom - Contemporary Crossover Art in Armenia, American University of Armenia, Yerevan, Armenia
1993 Four Contemporary Armenia Artists, Gloria Gallery, Nicosia, Cyprus
1992 Exhibition at the Gallery Express Avant-Garde, Moscow, Russia
1992 Armenian Post – Modernism, Moscow, Russia
1992 Contemporary Armenian Artists, Gallery Vision, Kassel, Germany
1991 Group Exhibition at the Artist’s House, Yerevan, Armenia
1990 Young Soviet Artists, Kassel, Germany
1990 Modern Soviet Painting, Galeria Praça, Lisbon, Portugal
1990 Contemporary Art from Armenia, New Academy Gallery, London, UK
1989 Artists and Work of Art, Helsinki, Finland
1988 Young Artists of USSR, Moscow, Russia
Solo Exhibitions:
2015 “Armenian District”, Cafesjian Center for the Arts, Yerevan, Armenia
2006 National Gallery of Armenia, Yerevan, Armenia
2002 Melina Mercury Hall, Nicosia, Cyprus
2001 Die Galerie Bodenschatz, Basel, Switzerland
1999 13 Ayios Kassianos, Nicosia, Cyprus
1997 AUX Gallery, Yerevan, Armenia
1996 Galerie La Hune, Paris, France
1992 New Academy Gallery, London, UK
Public Collections:
National Gallery of Armenia, Yerevan, Armenia
Museum Of Modern Art, Yerevan, Armenia
National Museum of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
Cultural Fund of USSR and the Republic of Armenia, Yerevan, Armenia
Royal Gallery of Gordon Gaffeschian Collection, Washington D.C.,USA
Catalogues:
1995 "The Rediscovery of a Land of Ancient Culture", Bochum, Germany
1995 "Stream of Fire - New Art from Armenia", Nicosia, Cyprus
1994 "Artists of Armenia and Diaspora", Paris, France
1990 "Young Soviet Artists - The Armenian Avant-garde", Kassel, Germany
1990 "Contemporary Art from Armenia", London, UK
1989 "Artists & Works of Art", Finland, Helsinki
Since my childhood, as an heir to survivors of the Armenian Genocide, I have heard stories about it and later tried to depict my impressions in my works. Later I realized that those stories were messages that should be passed to future generations through their representation in our works ,until the recognition of the Genocide and the fulfillment of Justice.
Sarkis Hamalbashyan