About Vasken Karalian

Vasken Karalian – Painter of Memory, Place, and Emotion

My name is Vasken Karalian, and I was born in 1958 in Aleppo, Syria. My earliest memories are filled with pencil and paper—I loved drawing from a very young age, often sketching during my school days whenever I had the chance. Although life took me in many directions before I could fully embrace art as a career, that spark never left me.

In 1989, after learning the craft of screen printing, I began working as a drawing assistant in a local screen-printing shop. That experience opened the door to more serious artistic exploration and allowed me to sharpen my technical skills. During those years, I had the privilege of studying under several remarkable and well-known artists, including Hagop Momdjian, Viken Bertilzian, and Vartkes Barsoumian. Their mentorship shaped my artistic foundation and encouraged me to develop my own creative voice.

In 2007, my wife and I immigrated to the United States with our three children in search of a better future. Like many immigrants, I worked outside the art field for many years to support my family. Yet, no matter how busy life became, I never stepped away from art. I continued to draw, paint, experiment with different mediums, and even explore sculpture—finding time late at night or early in the morning to keep the passion alive. Art remained my constant companion, my way of interpreting the world, and my connection to my roots.

By 2023, with my children grown and life settling into a new chapter, I made a decision I had long dreamed of: to transform my yeparslong hobby into a full-time artistic pursuit. Today, I create with intention, curiosity, and the joy of someone who finally gets to devote each day to what he loves most.

My work spans landscapes, portraits, and abstract pieces, using oil, watercolor, pencil, ink, and a variety of materials on canvas and paper. Each piece reflects a moment, a memory, or a story from my journey—from Aleppo’s narrow streets to my life here in the United States.

I invite you to explore my online gallery and experience the collection as it grows. And if a piece speaks to you—whether through its colors, its story, or its emotion—please reach out. I would be delighted to see my artwork find a new home where it can inspire someone else, just as creating it has inspired me.