Artistry is in Khosrov Melkonyan’s blood. The Los Angeles-born and bred fashion designer has always been a cinematic thinker, by virtue of his parents who were astute tastemakers in their own right. His father was a Yerevan-raised classically trained artist, and his mother, a culinarian with an ingenuity for lavish entertaining.  Melkonyan is the architect […]

06 March 2024 | Ella Chakarian

Growing up in the Armenian Apostolic Church was a sensory delight, with its flickering candles, rich colors, sparkling gold, and the sonorous chanting of priests and songs of the choir – all shrouded in incense, ritual, and mystery. So powerful are these memories that it felt only natural to turn to this heritage to find […]

07 February 2024 | Melissa Rodgers

In times of unimaginable crisis, Nairy Shahinian, like many of us, turns to music. In her words, “personally, music has been a daily companion throughout my life, with some of my earliest memories of music going as far back as my childhood. I have been especially mesmerised by music’s magical ability to heal the deepest […]

04 January 2024 | Azad Archives

“I entered the art world at a very young age,” explains the Armenian artist Karishok Dulyan, who held her very first solo exhibition of her 32 artworks, when she was only five years old. Born and raised in Yerevan, Armenia, Karishok’s parents were quick to pick up on her passion for drawing, so they signed […]

02 January 2024 | Hena Aposhian

Essay and artworks by Gayane Arushanian Does reality echo the chaos of our thoughts? Do we become like nature in order to create nature? In what reality do objects, boundaries, signs, and natural phenomena exist? What do the wind, sun, water, and fire look like? An infinite number of questions and one science has allowed […]

24 December 2023 | Gayane Arushanian

Pain only takes selfies.
Don’t expect others to do it.
“Can you please take
a picture of my agony?”
No.
Your plight is yours.
Share it.
But don’t share anyone else’s.
Your digital temple—
worship in it,
but don’t bring
in the “other.”

03 December 2023 | David Garyan

Taleen Kali’s music will take you on a journey that can at once be dreamlike, cosmic, and full of the defiance that the world oftentimes provokes. A musician, singer, songwriter, and more, she makes music that is polished and raw, intense and subtle, and defies being contained in just one genre.  Anahit Cass: I love […]

30 October 2023 | Kristin Anahit Cass

Welcome to Azad Films, a series of online and in-person events dedicated to increasing the appreciation and accessibility of Armenian cinema. Starting on July 20th, we’ll add a new film to this page every week, including a description and link for free viewing. Every Thursday, you can anticipate a delightful surprise awaiting you on the […]

16 August 2023 | Tatevik Ayvazyan

Last night I left a baby on a rock.  Unlike the others, this baby wasn’t detailed – it didn’t drool or coo or make jerky movements or ever-changing expressions. In fact, it wasn’t much different from a doll except that it was heavy, straining my arms as I held it to my chest. I was […]

02 May 2023 | Nancy Agabian

Speaking with SWANA drag king Vera Hannush is an event filled with lots of laughter, playful absurdity, and enough love to make you forget for a few hilarious moments about all the difficulties that queer SWANA folks face. And then there are the performances…  Kristin Anahit Cass: I loved the photos and videos from the […]

07 September 2022 | Kristin Anahit Cass