Displaced by wildfires, unique Armenian painting collection now set to open in Fresno

The Armenian Museum of Fresno will host a reception for the paintings of two Armenian brothers on Feb. 5, with the exhibition open to the public for free until Feb. 28.
Internationally recognized brothers Paylak and Kayts Vanikian will showcase an exhibition featuring over 60 oil paintings on high-quality linen, which kicks off with an opening reception on Feb. 5.
The brothers will attend the reception, which will take place from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Armenian Museum of Fresno, located in the UC Center. The event will feature traditional Armenian finger foods, such as Lahmacun flatbread and Spinach Borek dip.
The brothers will also be available throughout the weekend for visitors to meet the artists and discuss their work. The exhibition will run from Feb. 5-28.
The exhibition was originally scheduled for a museum in Southern California but was relocated due to the region’s ongoing wildfires.
Born in Yerevan, Armenia, brothers Paylak and Kayts are internationally acclaimed artists whose works have been exhibited across Europe, the United States, and the Middle East.
Paylak, a contemporary artist, is known for his vivid storytelling and deep connection to his Armenian heritage, while Kayts, a realist painter, transcends traditional canvas art, through capturing the human condition through color, texture, and tone.
Varoujan Der Simonian, director of the Armenian Museum of Fresno, said that a friend of his who owns a gallery in Carmel, California, contacted him to ask if the exhibit could be moved to Fresno. The setup process took about two weeks, including writing a press release, creating promotional postcards, shipping the paintings, and organizing the reception.
Der Simonian said the opportunity was “too good to pass up,” especially since he was already familiar with Kayts’ paintings from a previous group exhibition he helped organize at the Armenian Museum of Fresno.
He also said that Paylak and Kayts’ paintings will “bring something different from the norm” to the Armenian Museum. This includes Paylak’s “Bird and Girl” and Kayts’ “Lady and Child” paintings.
“We have beautiful art in Fresno, and why not experience something different?,” said Der Simonian. “There’s always room to learn and everyone has a place and time to learn something new. I believe they will bring that level of caliber to our exhibition and to our city.”
Der Simonian expressed hope that younger generations will be interested in the exhibition, as he believes they are more accustomed to abstract or contemporary art and may not have had the opportunity to experience classical artwork like that of the Vanikians.
“Being exposed to various artists and how they present themselves is valuable,” said Der SImonian. “I think that’s the benefit our community will gain, and that’s the wealth we can share with each other.”