Khoren Der Harootian (1909-1991)2

1. Khoren Der-Harootian 2

2. Khoren Der Harootian (1909-1991) was born in Ashodavan, Armenia, in 1909. He came to the United States with his mother and sisters in 1921 after witnessing the tragic scenes of the Armenian Genocide. His father, a priest, and 22 relatives were massacred by the Turks.  He lived in Worcester, Massachusetts, and began to paint while he was still a high school student. After finishing his studies, he moved to Jamaica to paint, and become fascinated with sculpture, primarily carving in the islands native hardwoods. Der Harootian visited London in 1939 and had his work exhibited in group shows. He later returned to Jamaica and devoted the next four years to carving. Der Harootian came back to the United States and had his first one-man show of paintings and sculpture at the Kraushaar Gallery, New York, in 1945. His art was worthily appreciated by the contemporaries and widely reflected in American and world press. Since 1929 Der-Harootian has had a great number of personal exhibitions all over the world (the USA, Jamaica, England, Scotland, Italy, and France). He has coexhibited his works with world-known artists (Aristide Maillol, Charles Despiau, Pablo Picasso, Naum Gabo, and Jacques Lipchitz) and has been awarded dozens of prizes. Der-Harootian’s works are housed in different museums of the world and in private collections Awards:1944 Springfield Art Association, 1st Prize.1949 and 1950 Audubon Artists, Gold Medal and 1st Prize.1954 Pennsylvania Academy-George D. Widener Gold Medal.1954 American Academy and the National Institute of Arts and Letters-monetary awards and exhibition of sculpture with citation.1962 Gruppo Donatello, Florence Italy-Silver Medal.1984 Soviet Armenian Government, Martiros Sarian Medal.