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.
Selected Exhibitions
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 Centerfor 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 LynnZelevansky/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
Studies
1996- 1999 San Francisco Art Institute- Fine Art Filmmaking, M.F.A.
1991- 1995 UC Santa Cruz: Theater Arts with an Emphasis on Film, B.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 YoungArtists Program
underconstructionhome.net
Founded in 2004 by Silvina Der-Meguerditchian, Underconstruction was a communication platform for artists interested in issues of identity, transglobalization and the construction of both personal and groupconsciousness. Underconstruction is also interested in issues of concern to worldwide diasporas, including but not limited to the Armenian diaspora.
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