Sophia Gasparian
born 1972, Yerevan Armenia
Lives and works in Los Angeles, CA, USA
Languages: English, Russian, Armenian

http://www.sophiagasparian.com

ARTIST STATEMENT

For as long as I can remember, art has been a part of my life. The issues of human rights, ethnic dislocation, social identity and women’s progress form my everyday experience. I do not consider myself an art activist. Instead, I believe it my responsibility to illustrate history subjectively, using representational elements of women’s common experiences to retell the stories from a personal point of view, thus altering the perspective of the viewer.

My intentions are to make my work aesthetically appealing and to create a dialogue with the audience. I use a variety of image sources varying from 70s children’s books, contemporary Asian pop magazines, political symbolism and graffiti. This familiarity is countered with jarring details intended to trigger questions about my underlying choices. My paintings are open to multiple interpretations, just as everyone’s experience of history is ultimately subjective.

EXHIBITIONS (selection)

2006 “It Came From Beyond the Stars” sci-fi group show “Of Monsters and Marvels” Plush/Doll show, Monkeyhouse, LA, CA
“Chain Letter” floor group show at High Energy Constructs Chinatown, Curated by Doug Harvey and Christian Cummingham
Genocide Poster Exhibit, UCLA and Center
for the Study of Political Graphics
“Up-Close and Personal” SCWCA Curator’s Choice Michele Cairella
“Gem” g825 group show Juror Joni Gordon, newspace gallery
“Field/Form” g825 group show Juror Ashley McLean Emenegger
“Mixed Bag” g825 group show Juror:Kimberly Light, Lightbox

2005 “Six Degrees of Separation (from Warhol)”, Black Maria Gallery, LA
Southern California Women’s Caucus for the Arts Curator’s Choice, Juror Suvan Greer, Downtown LA Brewery

2004 LA Municipal Gallery Open Call LA Lynn
Zelevansky/LACMA award
“Armenian Linking” Prima Center Gallerie, Berlin

2003 “VitVeersch” group installation Inshallah Gallery, Los Angeles
2002 Altar Exhibit Avenue 50 Studio, Highland Park
2001 Artists’ Ball Juired by Dahlia El-Sayed Puck Building, NYC
2000 “Don’t Go to the Mall” group show Julie Rico Gallery, Santa Monica
1999 Yerba Buena Center of the Arts, San Francisco MFA Screening

EDUCATION
1991- 1995 UC Santa Cruz: Theater Arts with an Emphasis on Film, B.A.
1996- 1999 San Francisco Art Institute- Fine Art Filmmaking, M.F.A.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
2005 Targos, Renee “Discovering Ms. X: The Art World’s Feminine Side”
Art Talk magazine August/September 2005

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
1997 San Francisco Art Institute Extension Education Developed course syllabus and taught fine art filmmaking to high school students enrolled in Young
Artists Program