Cafesjian centre for the arts

Cafesjian centre for the arts hosts the best of contemporary art in Armenia. This is a unique center that brought together artworks by famous international and local artists. The center was founded by Gerard L. Cafesjian , and half of the represented works are from his collection. The interesting thing is that some exhibits can already be visited beyond the walls of the center. In the yard, you can already feel the presence of contemporary art. In the surrounding area of the center, as well as inside the building, you will find numerous artworks by international artists such as Fernando Botero; Jaume Plensa; François-Xavier Lalanne; Peter Woytuk; Barry Flanagan; David Breuer-Weil; Maylee Christie and many more.

In the very beginning, it took some time for locals to get used to the presence of these modern artworks in the central part of Yerevan, but after some time it became an integral part of the city, much liked by everyone. The center has millions of visitors each year. From time to time, the featured collection is removed and replaced by new pieces of art.

Cafesjian centre for the arts is located in the heart of Yerevan, in Cascade! The construction of Cascade, that is one of the favorite spots of almost all the citizens of Yerevan, has been concluded in 1980. It’s a stairway made of limestone. Inside, instead of steps, there are seven escalators that will take you to the top of the building. There are exhibit halls connected to some of the landings along the escalators.

One of the most impressive corners of the center is Swarovski Crystal Palace. There are hanging artworks made of Swarovski that shine like a star in a dark room. It aims at creating signature interpretations of light and design. The exhibit is designed by Belgian architect Vincent Van Duysen. The other exhibit, located in a separate hall called “In the Mind of the Collector”, represents pieces of art that Mr. Cafesjian had collected throughout his life. “Sasuntsi Davit Relief” exhibit depicts more than thirty episodes from the Armenian epos. The author of the work is Artashes Hovsepyan. The work is approximately 15 times larger than the original graphics piece that is in the collection of National Gallery of Armenia.

Besides everything that is mentioned above, the Cafesjian centre for the arts offers a diverse program of lectures, films and concerts, the list of which you can find on their website. If you have time to attend any of the concerts offered by the Center, an excellent evening is guaranteed as only carefully selected artists perform on their stage.