Lina Melkonian

It’s a thrill to embark upon this long anticipated creative journey. During the past few years, I have been painting feverishly, experimenting and cultivating my art, producing a sizable body of diverse works. Thoughts, ideas, emotions, and a myriad of experiences and sensory perceptions come to life on my canvasses in the form of abstractions.

This new creative juncture is imbued with a sense of immense gratitude. My past work in philanthropy and developing talent at dynamic urban universities became my “calling.” Witnessing individuals from all walks of life and across the age spectrum, in their pursuit of an imagined future, filled me with awe and purpose.  It’s no wonder their stories are captured in many of my paintings.

While curiosity and observation inform and shape my approach to painting, the good fortune of having artistically endowed parents provided the foundation, inspiration and dedication essential to a creative life. My father, Zareh Melkonian, was an educator and a prolific poet, playwright, and linguist (Armenian language). My mother, Kohar Melkonian, was a teacher, sculptor, and painter—a Renaissance woman—who produced much of her art in her sixties and seventies.  Included, as a tribute to them, are samples of their creative contributions.

I gratefully acknowledge Sherri Kennedy, my painting teacher/coach, for her ongoing encouragement and unadulterated feedback. It is in her class, surrounded by the generous support of my peers, that I’ve felt at home painting.

Finally, always eager to discover something anew through others, I take real pleasure in and am intrigued by what viewers perceive in my paintings. Thank you for your insights and welcome to my website!