24 × 20 in
in
cm
$10,500
In Rue Sanguinet, Montréal, Armand Tatossian renders the distinctly Montréalaise street scene in modernist blocks of colour and bold brushstrokes. Tatossian immigrated to Canada from Egypt in 1960 and his subsequent art training spanned France, Italy, and Canada, resulting in a confidently modernist approach to painting. His contemporary, Jean-Paul Riopelle, embraced automatic gestural painting while Tatossian remained figurative but still used expressive swaths of abstract colour to represent both psychic and social space. In Rue Sanguinet, thick applications of blue and white oil paint create a kinetic sky while the multi-coloured heritage buildings of Old Montréal are given form through expressive vertical brushstrokes in saturated colour. Horizontal and vertical strokes collide and unlikely colours juxtapose to create a surface of surprising textures and movement.
| Medium | Painting |
| Signature | Signed |
| Frame | Framed |
| Condition | very good |
| Seller | Private |
| Location | Vancouver, Canada |
| Provenance | Galerie Bernard Desroches, Montreal; Private Collection, Vancouver. |
Born in Egypt in 1948 to Armenian parents, Armand Tatossian in an internationally recognized artist. His grandfather was an artist and curator at the Alexandria Museum of Egypt and had a strong background to lay the groundwork of his artistic career. With his guidance he began to draw. He had also taught his son to paint, who continues to work as a landscape artist in Canada. Armand Tatossian’s great uncle was a painter as well, which also served to solidify his foundation in fine art. It was evident there was no other course in life better suited for this man.
In 1965, he dedicated himself to painting full time, which allowed him to travel and exhibit his work internationally. The following year, he studied under the guidance on Serbian sculptor Jose Majzner. Always seeking further inspiration and guidance, Tatossian then worked under Adam Sheriff-Scott restoring many of his earlier mural works. He was not paid, but what he learnt from Sheriff-Scott was infinitely more valuable than any sum of money. He eventually became his assistant, and drove the artist around on several artistic adventures, where he was introduced to several formidable artists such as Goodridge Roberts, A.Y. Jackson and Stanley Cosgrove.
Although he already had excellent training and education in art, Tatossian continued his studies at the Paris Academy of Fine Arts. He then moved on to the Carrera Academy in Italy, where he developed his figurative/impressionistic style that he is still popular for today. Quite possibly the most significant adventure he embarked upon was a trip to Greece in 1970. While in Greece, he was inspired by the vibrant colors around the country and how they changed with the brilliance of the sun. Color, shadow and light; it was an epiphany. He concentrated on those three elements, expelling black and white from his palette.
Tatossian’s works are vigourous and intense with a generous application of oil paint to canvas. He had a keen desire to express himself through his work. His main inspiration came from the Canadian landscape but he also enjoyed the technicality of a still life.
In 1973, Armand became a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, at the time, the youngest artist ever to be elected. He exhibited in North America, Europe and Asia and enjoyed great success, before his passing in August 2012.
Source: https://koymangalleries.com/artist/tatossian-armand/
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