Hayk Adamyan was born on November 24, 1952, in Leninakan (now Gyumri), Armenia, in the large family of Mkrtich and Anahit Adamyan, with ancestral roots reaching back to Constantinople. During the first Armenian Genocide in 1896, Hayk's grandfather, Yeranos Adamyan, made a migration from Constantinople to Bulgaria and subsequently Romania, where he laid the foundation of his family.
In 1946, Hayk's parents emigrated from Romania to their homeland, Armenia. His father was a shoemaker who had a great love and dedication to art, especially music and dance, which he passed to his children.
Hayk started his first photography experiments at an early age, when his cousin gifted him his first camera and the 11-year-old boy started observing his birthplace and its inhabitants with the eyes of a future photographer, greatly impressed by the magical color and unique images of Gyumri. It was there that the artist began to be formed, and would later captivate many with his delicate and sensitive art. He studied and worked at the famous Karakhan photo studio in Gyumri. Having acquired professional skills over the years, he worked for several municipal and republican periodicals, and cooperated with various publishing houses.
For many years, he was the photographer of the Kumayri historical district of Leninakan, creating an unprecedented, large-scale photographic archive of the historic center of Gyumri-Alexandrapol-Leninakan. Hayk Adamyan is the author of many picture books and theater poster designs. Since 1980, he has participated in local, national, and international exhibitions.
The devastating earthquake of 1988 divided Hayk's life into two parts – before and after the disaster. His newly built apartment, the huge collection of negative images and photo lab were destroyed. Despite all this, Hayk continued to work and create, again participating in the cultural life of the city and the country, in exhibitions and projects. He was one of the founders of the "Shirak" state TV station, and has shot several short and documentary films.
Hayk Adamyan moved with his family to the USA (Burbank, California) in 2000. Despite the creative searches and difficulties of his first years here, in 2004-2006 he participated in a very famous and prestigious photography competition, The International Photography Lucie Awards, winning an honorary award out of thousands of entries. This competition is known among professionals as the "Oscar in photography."
Currently, improved qualities and depths have started to appear in Adamyan's art; his experimental period of the last years is especially noteworthy. The artist specializes in various alternative techniques in photography (wetplate collodion process, gum bichromate printing, platinum and palladium process, photogravure, oilprint process, resinotype process). Those who practice them are called "photographer - alchemists." Alternative photographic processes are commonly referred to as historical, as the majority of them were developed over 170 years ago and were employed by the pioneers of photography.
Adamyan continues his creative path, always remaining innovative, creative and curious.
On exhibit at Sahara West Library from December 19, 2024 through February 22, 2025
Monday: 10:00AM – 8:00PM
Tuesday: 10:00AM – 8:00PM
Wednesday: 10:00AM – 8:00PM
Thursday: 10:00AM – 8:00PM
Friday: 10:00AM – 6:00PM
Saturday: 10:00AM – 6:00PM
Sunday: 10:00AM – 6:00PM
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