This is an impressive oversized floral still life by Sarkis Sarkisian featuring tulips and Lillies in a vase. The mauve background is subtle enough to compliment the flowers and vase. Sarkisian used a striking blue at the bottom of the piece. Though unsigned this painting was purchased from the original collector who purchased it directly from Sarkisian. The scale of this artwork creates a real presence.
askART:
“Sarkis Sarkisian was a painter and teacher, who spent most of his career in Detroit, Michigan… He emigrated there with his Armenian family [at age 13] from Smyma, Turkey in 1922. From a young age, he showed art interest and talent.
Sarkisian studied under John Wicker at the Wicker School of Fine Arts, and with John Carroll at the Art School of the Detroit Society of Arts & Crafts* where Sarkisian was hired as an assistant instructor of drawing and design in 1933. He became a full instructor in 1934, and was named Director in 1947. In addition, he taught classes for the Birmingham Society of Women.”
“Sarkis was juried into art exhibitions across the nation during his lifetime including the Annual Exhibition of Michigan Artists at the Detroit Institute of Arts, Annual Exhibitions of American Painters and Sculptors at the Art Institute of Chicago*, First Annual Show of Contemporary Art at the Richmond Museum of Art, Society of Independent Artists, Paintings from 16 American Cities at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, The Scarab Club* of Detroit, Biennial Exhibition of American Art at the Whitney Museum of American Art, Biennial Exhibitions of American Oil Paintings at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., National Exhibition of American Art at Rockefeller Center in New York, Annual Exhibition at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, among many others.”