Kevork_Cholakian

click images to enlarge

Bowl of Cherries, 2007

18” x 24”

oil on canvas

Papayas, 2007

36” x 48”

oil on board

Stacked Apples, 2008

24" x 36"

Oil on board

Watermelon, 2008

36" x 48"

Oil on board

Kevork Cholakian

Peppers, 2008, 18" x 36", oil on canvas

Artist Statement

Kevork Cholakian was born in 1955 and raised in the Bronx. His interest in art began at a young age, and he excelled in school art programs. At 15, he enrolled in weekend painting classes at the Art Students League. The school influenced him strongly to continue his art education which he pursued The High School of Music and Art. Developing a strong interest in printmaking, he received many achievement awards as well as a partial scholarship to Pratt Institute where he majored in printmaking and graphic design. During his junior year, he took a summer job at CBS-TV as a graphic designer for news broadcasts. A year later he was offered a permanent position. Kevork went on to win many design awards for his work in broadcast graphic design and animation. His interest in fine art always played a strong role. He later moved to ABC where he became creative director for ABC News. It is during this period in 1989 that Kevork began painting. The Dutch masters and American still life painters such as Raphael and James Peale influenced him heavily. Within a year he was exhibiting and selling his work. In 1996, he accepted a new position as Creative Director of Design for ABC Entertainment in Los Angeles. The demands of his new position made it difficult to keep pace with the demands of painting, but within a few years, Kevork rebuilt his garage into a studio and began painting again. His work took on new proportions, larger in scale and bolder in color than the small traditional still lifes he painted previously in New York. His work continues to evolve and change.

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Resume

Born: 1955 New York City

Education

1973-77 BFA /Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY

1970-73 High School of Music and Art, New York City

1968-70 Art Students League, New York City

Shows & Exhibitions

2007 Group Show James Gray Gallery, Santa Monica CA

2007 Juried Group Show San Diego Institute of Art, Museum of The Living Artist

2002 Group Show Ruth Bachofner Gallery, Los Angeles

1998 Group Exhibition, Hubert Gallery, NY