Ramshackle Review

Alexandra Manukyan:

Three Paintings




Valkyrie                                                   Canvas, 18" x 36"



Broken Music                                                                             Oil on Canvas, 30" x 40"



Escape                                                                                                                                           Oil on Canvas, 36" x 36"



Alexandra Manukyan on her work:

I work primarily in oil paint, and use vivid colors to exude the perpetual turmoil which exists inside the human core. I dress my characters in lush drapery or colorful costumes with intricate and specific details to give them definable personalities. I capture my characters during mysterious and intriguing interactions. The gestures and facial expressions of my characters as well as surrounding atmosphere exhibit dynamics within human beings and relationships.

By combining traditional figurative painting techniques with surrealism and symbolism, in some paintings I use different gadgets and gears as body parts to convey the immediate impact of technological revolution on human body and soul. The protagonists are almost always feminine. The woman seems to bear the burden of all the world's grief and mistakes on her body; although overwhelmed by this, she bows as if in resignation to what is inevitable.  It seems she has turned into a machine herself.




Alexandra Manukyan was born and raised in Armenia, and since a very young age has been interested in fine arts and spent many years studying painting, drawing and sculpture. She graduated art school, college and State Pedagogical University as an art major, in Armenia. After immigrating to the U.S., she continued her education and majored in Fashion and Graphic design.  Alexandra has held and participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions in the U.S. and abroad. Her diverse background is directly reflected in her artworks. Currently she lives and works in Los Angeles.  See more of her work on her website.