Emil Kazaz

Emil Kazaz’s paintings, drawings, and sculptures situate bulbous figures in fantastical realms. His work incorporates elements from his native Armenia’s traditions alongside American cultural notions, resulting in a unique aesthetic that stands in contrast to the notions of Ideal Realism enforced in the formal artistic training he undertook in the Soviet Union. His work integrates the traditional art values of anatomy, color theory, and perspective with religious motifs and surrealist references. Kazaz draws inspiration from his mother, who introduced him to the elements of theater, as well as Christian art such as manuscripts, tapestries, and architecture. Emotion-laden works like “Flying Panther” / “Uçan Panter” (1996) use detailed brushwork, bright colors, and connotations that leave the viewer with more questions about the figures’ lives and circumstances. He won the Premio Grande, Lorenzo il Magnifico (Medici) prize in sculpture at the Florence Biennale in 2007.