Biography
Born in Beirut in 1973, Yedalian is a Lebanese-Armenian painter and sculptor. He studied etching at the Académie Libanaise des Beaux-Arts (ALBA), and fine arts at the Academy of Fine Art Toros Roslin. He is a member of the Lebanese Artists Association of Painters and Sculptors and a member of the Artists Union of Armenia. He was a Fine Arts instructor at Haigazian University of Beirut from 2006 to 2020.
In 2026, he represented the National Pavilion of Armenia at the Malta Biennale, 2nd Edition, with the sculptural and sound installation “The Sound of What Was Never Seen“. In 2019 he was awarded the “Lorenzo il Magnifico” Gold Medal at the XIIth Florence Biennale for his painting installation “Reflection of an Enigmatic Mind”, dedicated to the fifth centenary of Leonardo Da Vinci’s death. In 2013, he was also a prize winner at the “Age of Bronze” competition at the Modern and Contemporary Art Museum (MACAM), Alita, Lebanon.
Yedalian’s work has been showcased in international exhibitions and art fairs including: Volta Basel (Switzerland), Moderne Art (France), Art 15 London (UK), the Malta Biennale (Valletta), Florence Biennale (Italy), Red Dot Miami (USA), the Modern Art Museum of Yerevan (Armenia), Beirut Art Fair (Lebanon), Contemporary Art Platform CAP (Kuwait), Art Week Dubai (UAE), Armenia Art Fair (Armenia), the Armenian Genocide Museum (Yerevan), the International Print Festival Life N Style (Georgia), and the Museum of Matenadaran (Armenia).
In 2012, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI inaugurated and blessed his bronze monument of “Hagop Meghabard” (who published the first printed book in the Armenian language in Venice in 1512) at the Patriarchal Congregation of Bzommar, Lebanon, on September 15, marking the 500th anniversary of the first Armenian printed book “Ourpatakirk”. A miniature replica of the monument is part of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI’s collection in Vatican City.
In 2015, during the historic Holy Mass dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican on April 12, Yedalian presented to His Holiness Pope Francis his painting “Saint Ignatius Maloyan” (Armenian Catholic Archbishop of Mardin, martyr 1869-1915, beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 7, 2001, and canonized as a Saint on October 19, 2025, by Pope Leo XIV). The painting was later reproduced as a limited-edition stamp by the Philatelic and Numismatic Office of Vatican City on September 2, 2015.
In 2007-2008, he created and executed the stained glasses, the Holy Spirit sculpture and the angel sculptures of the Saint Cross Armenian Catholic Church of Zalka, Lebanon.
He is the creator of several public monuments, including Hagop Meghabard (2012) at the Patriarchal Congregation of Bzommar, Lebanon, “Gratitude” (2015) in Pasteur Street, Beirut, Lebanon, and “Saint Ignatius Maloyan” (2016) at the Patriarchal Congregation of Bzommar, Lebanon.
In 2017, he created the Torch of Our Lady of Fatima, offered by His Beatitude Mar Bechara Boutros Cardinal Rai, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East to the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the apparitions.
He has also illustrated several books, notably, “Հայաստան” “Armenia” in 2007.
Some of the artist’s works are in permanent collections including: Sursock Museum (Lebanon), Vatican City (Rome), Modern and Contemporary Art Museum “MACAM” (Lebanon), Modern Art Museum of Yerevan (Armenia), Museum of the Shrine of Fatima (Portugal), Museum of Matenadaran (Armenia), Museum of The Armenian Genocide (Armenia), Museum of the Convent of Our Lady Bzommar (Lebanon), Museum of the Great House of Cilicia (Lebanon), and many more throughout the world.
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2024 “Introspection”, Mark Hachem Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon.
2022 “Asymmetrical Balance”, AGBU Armenia in partnership with Armenia Art Fair, Yerevan, Armenia.
2018 Haigazian University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
2017 Art on 56th Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon.
2014 “Passion of Humanity”, Art on 56th Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon.
2012 “Glimpse of Life”, Pièce Unique Gallery, Solidere, Beirut, Lebanon.
International Biennales
2026 Malta Biennale, 2nd Edition, Fort St. Elmo, Valletta, Malta.
Representing the National Pavilion of Armenia with the sculptural and sound installation “The Sound of What
Was Never Seen”; initiated by the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, with the support of the Embassy of Armenia in Italy, and curated by art historian Sona Hovhannisyan. Main sponsor: Vahe Fattal Foundation
2019 XIIth Florence Biennale, Florence, Italy.
Awarded the “Lorenzo il Magnifico” Gold Medal for “Reflection of an Enigmatic Mind”, a painting installation.
Selected Group Exhibitions
2024 Artist’s Union of Armenia, “La Bohème”, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Charles Aznavour,
Yerevan, Armenia.
2024 AKNEYE, during 60th Venice Biennale 2024, curated by Anastasia Dawson, Venice, Italy.
2023 Artbooth Gallery, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
2022 Mark Hachem Gallery, Paris, France.
2021 Moderne Art – Mark Hachem Gallery, Paris, France.
2021 Volta Basel – Mark Hachem Gallery, Basel, Switzerland.
2020 Beirut Art Scene – Mark Hachem Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon.
2019 Beirut Art Fair – Mark Hachem Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon.
2018 Contemporary Art Platform, CAP Kuwait, “Cultural Narratives”, Selections Arts, Kuwait.
2018 International Print Festival, Life N Style, Contemporary Art Space, Georgia.
2018 Art Week Dubai, “Cultural Narratives”, Selections Arts, Alserkal Avenue Dubai, UAE.
2017 Red Dot Miami Art Fair, Esquisse Gallery, Miami, USA.
2017 Lebanese Cultural Week in Kuwait, organized by the Lebanese Ministry of Culture, Kuwait.
2017 Artspace Gallery, “Freestanding”, curated by Cesar Nammour, Beirut, Lebanon.
2016 Lucy Tutunjian Art Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon.
2016 Lebanese National Library of Beirut, “Bitasarrof”, Beirut, Lebanon.
2016 Beirut Art Fair – Art on 56th Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon.
2016 Beirut Design Week, “Art & Sustainability”, Arton56th, Beirut, Lebanon.
2015 Beirut Art Fair (ME.NA.SA.ART) – Art on 56th Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon.
2015 Art 15 London’s Global Art Fair, Olympia, UK.
2015 Beirut Exhibition Center, Solidere, Beirut, Lebanon.
2014 Beirut Art Fair (ME.NA.SA.ART) – Art on 56th Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon.
2014 Goguikian Foundation, “Extraordinary Art Exhibition”, The Venue, Solidere, Beirut, Lebanon.
2013 Beirut Art Fair (ME.NA.SA.ART) – Art on 56th Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon.
2013 Modern and Contemporary Art Museum “MACAM”, Alita, Lebanon.
2013 Lucy Tutunjian Art Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon.
2010 Visual Art Forum 2010, Unesco Palace, Beirut, Lebanon.
2010 Surface Libre Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon.
2008 Museum of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia, Beirut, Lebanon.
1999 La Fabrika, “Armenian Artists 50 years in Lebanon”, Beirut, Lebanon.
1998 Nicolas Sursock Museum, XXIIe Salon d’Automne, Beirut, Lebanon.
1998 Noah’s Ark Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon.
1998 Tour des Lions, “JABAL 98”, Tripoli, Lebanon.
1997 Nicolas Sursock Museum, XXIe Salon d’Automne, Beirut, Lebanon.
Museums & Public Collections
Vatican, Rome.
Sursock Museum, Lebanon.
Modern and Contemporary Art Museum “MACAM”, Lebanon.
Modern Art Museum of Yerevan “MAMY”, Armenia.
Museum of the Shrine of Fatima, Portugal.
Museum of Matenadaran, Armenia.
Armenian Genocide Museum, Armenia.
Ministry of Culture, Lebanon.
Museum of Our Lady of Bzommar, Lebanon.
Museum of the Great House of Cilicia, Lebanon.
Awards
2019 “Lorenzo il Magnifico” Gold Medal, XII Florence Biennale, Italy.
2013 Prize at the competition of the Age of Bronze at the Modern and Contemporary Art Museum “MACAM”, Alita,
Lebanon.
Stamp of Vatican City
On April 12, 2015, during the Historic Holy Mass dedicated to the Centenary of the Armenian Genocide at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, Yedalian presented to His Holiness Pope Francis his painting “Saint Ignatius Maloyan” (Armenian Catholic Archbishop of Mardin, martyr 1869-1915, beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 7, 2001, and canonized as a Saint on October 19, 2025, by Pope Leo XIV). The painting was later reproduced as a limited-edition stamp by the Philatelic and Numismatic Office of Vatican City on September 2, 2015.
Monumental Sculptures
2016 Monument in bronze “Saint Ignatius Maloyan”, at the Patriarchal Congregation of Bzommar, Lebanon.
2015 Monument in bronze “Gratitude”, Pasteur Street, Beirut, Lebanon.
2012 Monument in bronze “Hagop Meghabard” inaugurated and blessed by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI at the Patriarchal Congregation of Bzommar, Lebanon. A miniature replica of the monument is part of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI’s collection in Vatican City.
Projects
2017 Torch of Our Lady of Fatima, created for the 100th Anniversary of the apparitions, offered by His Beatitude
Mar Boutros Cardinal Rai, to the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal.
2017 Sculpture (Limited edition series), for Beirut Stock Exchange, AFE Annual Conference 2017.
2016 Trophy of Beirut Golden Awards.
2011 Trophy of Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, “USEK”.
2010 Trophy of Beirut International Awards Festivals “BIAF”.
2008 Angels sculptures of the Saint Cross Church, Zalka, Lebanon.
2007 Stained glasses and Holy Spirit sculpture of the Saint Cross Church, Zalka, Lebanon.
About Yedalian’s works
Yedalian’s paintings and sculptures are both emotional and cold, expressive and quiet, his oeuvre is complex beyond its simplicity. His concern with the human condition is represented through stylistic and thematic dualities, symbolizing the continual battle between confinement and freedom. Yedalian’s figures are trapped in bold and abstract constructions. Their elongated silhouettes and mask-like faces transcend longing and anguish, but also nonchalance, tranquility and poise. His canvases pride themselves on their harmonious symmetry, but at a closer look, the lines, application of color and composition become expressive exaggerations, bordering on the surreal. Yedalian weaves figuration with abstraction and creates this fractured, uncomfortable environment. The stillness, innocence and timelessness of his depictions is unnatural and disturbing. He builds tension around the idea of individuality and fragments the identity of his sitters, rendering them anonymous, uniform and lifeless.
The artist celebrates the flatness of his canvases and attenuates color in order to allow the viewer to focus on the symbol of the line. It is through this particular element that he simultaneously constructs and reduces his figures into mere geometric beings, compressed into basic physical features. However, it is in their stylized representation and pronounced characteristics that the sitters find prominence. Their gaze transcends beyond the painted surface and penetrates the souls of the observers. Sculptural metal elements are incorporated in some of his paintings, to show the artificial intelligence of humans. These elements are creations of human biological forms which symbolize human body parts after deconstruction. Thus, they portray the reconstruction of humans with technological thoughts.
For his sculptures, Yedalian translates these anonymous and inert silhouettes into three-dimensional entities. Although he frees them from the flatness of their canvases, he entraps them in motionless poses. The artist plays with the idea of texture in order to exude both dismemberment and fragmentation, as well as unity and conformity. Additionally, the figures represent a witty melange between the robotic and the organic, intensity and vulnerability. With exaggerated postures and features, the sculptures seem at once burdened and weightless, further celebrating Yedalian’s fascination with dichotomies.