Born in the vibrant capital city of Armenia, Yerevan, my artistic journey began at the tender age of three, when I first picked up a brush to paint and a pencil to draw. My father, a musician and architect, recognized my talents early on, becoming my first and most influential teacher. By age five, I was playing the piano, expressing the emotions of the characters I sketched. At six, I entered art school, and by eight, I was participating in international exhibitions, earning a gold medal at the Russian-Armenian International Exhibition “Kids Represent the Peaceful World” and the Grand Prix at the International Exhibition in Moscow at nine. These early experiences shaped my path as an artist, leading me to study at the College of Fine Arts in Yerevan and later earn a Master’s Degree in Art and Design from the Armenian State Institute of Fine Art in 1981.
My career has taken me across continents, from exhibitions in Russia, Poland, Germany, and France to my current home in Los Angeles, California, where I’ve held numerous solo shows in prestigious galleries. My work, influenced by my grandmother’s photographs as an actress in the Stanislavsky Theatre and my grandfather’s legacy as an officer in the Czar’s army, captures a mystical world where women live surrounded by bizarre forms, signs, and objects—a world that feels real and demands to be taken seriously.
Why Women?
“Why are my subjects women? Because beauty excites me,” I shared in my interview with Artistcloseup.com. “I like to see transformations, diversity, the layers covering the vulnerable paleness of a female arm, or the tender mat luster of flesh; the skin’s translucence beneath a film of gauze draping a naked body. It might as well be the ultramarine of the night sky and the whiteness of the stars. My brush does not just move about the surface, it carefully penetrates the space of another dimension, going beyond the frontier—which is insurmountable to anyone else. There truly is space and life behind that fragile margin, as in a mirror. Of these space and life forms, I express my daily chronicles, of their everyday life and feasts. And—of women who belong there.”
My first collection, Mirror of Art Nouveau, consisting of twelve works about love, life, and beauty, drew inspiration from my daughter and her dance students, who served as prototypes for my characters. Designing costumes for these models, I created numerous preliminary sketches, each one a step deeper into the spiritual world I express on canvas.
A Multifaceted Career
After moving to the United States in 1994, I expanded my creative scope, working as a storyboard artist, illustrator, textile designer, graphic designer, and apparel designer for various companies. I also taught in my own art studio, sharing my passion with aspiring artists. My work has been displayed in galleries across Russia, Armenia, Poland, and Los Angeles, with collectors proudly owning my pieces. A highlight of my career was winning a prize at the Art Biennale Internazionale Arte Firenze in Florence, Italy, where I connected with inspiring individuals from around the world.
The Heart of My Art
When asked what my work aims to convey, I believe it speaks to the universal human experience. “Some people are born knowing who they are and where they are going, while others spend their entire lives trying to find out,” I noted. “All people live with feelings and love, and I want them to see how beautiful our life is.” My paintings often emerge from a deep well of inspiration—sometimes planned, sometimes sparked by the soul and music that move me most.
I work with oil, acrylic, ink, and gold leaf, often using a palette knife and mixed media to create textured, layered compositions. My art is a reflection of my inner world, where women inhabit mystical realms, surrounded by symbols and forms that tell stories of love, life, and beauty.
A Personal Connection
Choosing a favorite artwork is like choosing a favorite child—impossible. Each piece is a part of me, a snapshot of my creative journey. My art is not just about aesthetics; it’s about peering into an inner spiritual world and sharing that vision with others. Through my website, lianagor.com, and my Instagram, @runwaydesignillustration, I invite you to explore this world and join me in celebrating the beauty of art and culture.
Originally published on Artistcloseup.com on October 21.
By Liana Gor, republished from Artistcloseup.com
