A descendant of 17th century Armenian settlers in the New Julfa district of Isfahan,

Armenian Library and Museum of America
and NAASR
Present an Illustrated Talk by
Dr. Armen Der Kiureghian
"The Life and Art of Sumbat"

Sumbat Der Kiureghian (1913-1999) is the most celebrated Iranian watercolorist
of the 20th century. A descendant of 17th century Armenian settlers in the New Julfa district of Isfahan, he embodied the artistic traditions of his people and of his hometown. He is admired for his watercolor and gouache renditions
of Iranian and Armenian village scenes and of landscapes. Through his art, he played the role of a mediator between East and West: he brought a European
artistic style (lucid watercolor applied in loose brushwork) to Iran and he introduced Iranian lifestyle, folk traditions, and landscapes to Western
audiences. His works capture the energy and diversity of Iranian society while also straddling the line between figurative and abstract painting.

Armen Der Kiureghian is Professor of Civil Engineering and holder of the Taisei Chair at the University of California, Berkeley. He is one of the founders of
the American University of Armenia and served as its founding dean of engineering from 1991 to 2007 concurrently with his Berkeley position. Among
other awards, he is the recipient of the Movses Khorenatsi medal from the government of Armenia for his efforts in advancing higher education in Armenia.

Der Kiureghian's book The Life and Art of Sumbat presents the artist's biography through a series of intimate stories, letters, pictures, and quotations from other writers. The book includes more than 180 color reproductions of Sumbat's paintings, drawings, and sketches. The Life and Art of Sumbat will be available for purchase the night of the talk.

Admission is free-donations are welcome. A reception
will follow the program.

For more information contact NAASR at 617-489-1610
or hq@naasr.org or ALMA at info@almainc.org.

Naasr