Painter Amalya Tumanian shares a collection of boldly colorful abstract work and a story of evolution and change. Enjoy and find more on her website.
I was born in Yerevan, Armenia. In 1991, I was already a well-established artist with many local and international shows and sales, paintings in museums, and public and private collections. Due to the war with Azerbaijan, and leaving everything behind, I immigrated with my family to the United States.
With much difficulty, while raising my three children, I continued creating and participating in gallery shows. In 2009, I graduated from the Academy of Art University of San Francisco with MFA degree. Since 2018, I have lived in France.
During years of artistic practice, my paintings found their place in many private collections. In 2020, I received the bronze medal from the French Society of Arts, Sciences and Letters.
What I deeply regret is that during my artistic career for various reasons, several times I changed my artist’s signature. This made it difficult for admirers and collectors of my art. From my teenage years, I signed my works Pze. Later, after marriage, I took my husband’s last name, then changed it again after divorce, then again after emigrating to the USA, and then after relocating to France. Pze followed by Ama, Amalya Ovsepyan, Nane Ovsepyan, Amtunane, Amalya Nane Tumanian, Nané, and finally, Tuman.
Now, I work on establishing a consistent signature and brand that incorporates elements from my previous names while reflecting my current identity. This will make it easier for people to recognize my works across different stages of my personal and artistic journey of creative trials, disappointments, failures, and success.
Some critics find it difficult to emphasize my stylistic tendencies. I think this is because my creations are my response to the external world. They fluctuate depending on a trigger or a source of my inspiration. The transition from a realistic or academic style to experimentation with different techniques and media was followed by me embracing a figurative expressionist style. It had an emphasis on the subjective and emotional representation of recognizable subjects. And provided a powerful platform for conveying the complexities of the human condition, ultimately settling into abstract.
My stylistic approach comes from my artistic passion for growth and experimentation. I’m on a constant quest for new ways to convey meaning. I want to push the boundaries of form and representation, creating a mixture of organic and geometric elements in synergy. My artistic journey is an evolving narrative that spans various styles and techniques. It reflects my willingness to push artistic creative boundaries in a continual process of self-discovery. My inspiration comes from my desire to communicate ideas and emotions, leading me to a search of visual forms.
I wish to design pieces that invite viewers to wonder about images, finding both familiarity and novelty, that evoke a strong response and establish an emotional connection with them. I want viewers to experience an excitement of the beauty in very subjective, imperfect, and personal expressions. Some of my works are layered with symbolism, encouraging a deeper engagement.
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