Kiki (Artist)

Kiki (Grigor Mikaelian) is an American-Armenian abstract painter born in 1956 Yerevan, Armenia. He is known for his establishment of the "Bobo" series and as a visionary in Armenian abstract art.

Painting style
Kiki often paints during the night time because it is the time of day that sparks innovation and creativity in the midst of pure silence. He is able to focus freely on his art by refusing to be bothered by the outside world. His painting sessions are a means of escaping into his personal world of harmony. Furthermore, the night time is representative of a newly painted canvas because the day is transitioning into a new and undetermined future. Kiki paints his canvases flat on the floor using a broom to paint. The broom serves as a paint brush and painting on the floor allows Kiki more flexibility and speed to paint his artworks. (Mooradian Gallery, www.mooradiangallery.com)

On the other hand, Kiki’s mornings are spent observing paintings in museums and galleries. He spends hours and days examining various contemporary artists and their ability to establish different styles and effects.

Early life
Kiki is a non-conformist artist and a member of the Third Floor group that was established in Armenia in the late 1980’s (Harutyunyan 9). As a student Kiki refused to follow the rules established by teachers and the government to avoid the practice of abstract art. It was a shunned painting method under Soviet Armenia. All of these situations made Kiki all the more interested to invent pure and original abstract art. He was fascinated to enter into the unknown abstract world that lay ahead of him. Therefore, through an experimental outburst his “Bobo” series was born.

Important exhibitions
Kiki was exhibited at the 2012 Los Angeles Art Show in the Los Angeles Convention Center by Mooradian Gallery along with six other internationally acclaimed Armenian artists. Many prestigious galleries from around the world were in attendance.

Other recent exhibitions include:
 * 2008 H.Kazan Fine Arts, Culver City, CA.
 * 2008 Museum of Contemporary Art Group Show, Yerevan Armenia.
 * 2008 The Invisible, Visible H.Kazan Fine Arts, Culver City, CA.
 * 2007 Alchemy of Art Red Dot Gallery, Los Angeles, CA.
 * 2007 Art Matters ZC Gallery, Portland, Oregon.
 * 2007 From Trash To Treasures Cactus Gallery, Eagle Rock, CA.
 * 2007 Xtreme Opposition Against Genocide Royal Gallery, Glendale, CA.
 * 2007 International Art Festival Long Beach Museum of Art, Long Beach, CA.
 * 2006 Don O'Melveny Gallery "American Period" Solo Exhibit, W. Hollywood, CA.