Varaz Samuelian
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Varazdat Samuel "Varaz" Samuelian (Armenian: Վարազդատ Սամվելի "Վարազ" Սամվելյան, 1917 – November 7, 1995) was a prominent Armenian American writer, painter and sculptor.[1][2]
1917
Varaz Samuelian Վարազ Սամվելյան | |
|---|---|
| Born | Varazdat Samuel Samuelian 1917 |
| Died | November 7, 1995 (age 78) Fresno, California, United States |
| Occupation | writer, painter and sculptor |
| Nationality | Armenian American |
| Spouse | Ann |
Life and works
Of Armenian descent, Varaz Samuelian was born in Yerevan, Armenia.[3] His parents were survivors of the Armenian genocide.[1][4]
Samuelian eventually settled in France. During his time in Paris, Samuelian studied with renowned painters such as Othon Friesz, André Lhote and Fernand Léger.[3] During World War II he was a German prisoner of war.[3]
Samuelian eventually settled in California in 1946. When arriving in California he moved to Burlingame to be closer with his brother.[1] It was during this period in his life where he began to paint.[1] He turned his painting hobby into a business as a sign painter. Due to his success as a sign painter, he eventually moved to Belmont, California.[1] Samuelian eventually met his wife Ann there.[1]
Varaz Samuelian estimated that during his career he created a thousand works of art, including a monumental statue of the Armenian folkloric legend David of Sassoun in front of the Fresno County Courthouse.[5] He is also noted for his bronze bust of William Saroyan at the entrance of the Fresno Convention Center.[2]
Varaz Samuelian was a writer of several books, including one on his relationship with William Saroyan entitled Willie and Me.[6]
He died on November 7, 1995, at the age of 78.
Legacy
In 1965 William Saroyan wrote a short novel dedicated to Varaz Samuelian entitled Who is Varaz?[7]
The Varaz Samuelian Cultural Center, named after him, was inaugurated in the village of Artik, Shirak Province, in Armenia on September 1, 2010.[4] The building is 6,000 square feet and serves as a cultural resource center for the village. The center contains an art gallery, auditorium and a computer room.
Writings
- A history of Armenia and my life: Writing and drawing (1978)
- Neutron bomb and what is art (1978)
- Circus: 96 water colors (1980)
- Willie and Varaz: Memories of my friend William Saroyan (1985)