Hrair Sarkissan

Hrair Sarkissian (Damascus, 1973) earned his foundational training at his father’s photographic studio in Damascus, which to this day informs his perspective and his practice. In 2010 he completed a BFA in Photography at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Amsterdam. He lives and works in London.

Sarkissian’s photographic practice is characterised by an element of search, as well as the dichotomy of visible/invisible. The search relates to answers about his personal memories and background, and he uses this subjectivity as a way to navigate stories that official histories are unable or unwilling to tell. The invisibility versus visibility is evident in Sarkissian’s often deserted landscapes and locations, devoid of human presence yet filled with human existence. “I try to engage the viewer into a more profound reading of what lies behind the surface, thereby re-evaluating larger historical or social narratives.”

Hrair Sarkissian lives in London, UK and The Hague, NL. He earned a BFA in photography at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Amsterdam, in 2010. Sarkissian’s work has been the subject of many solo exhibitions internationally at institutions including Fotografisk Center, Copenhagen, Denmark (2024); Bonniers Konsthall, Stockholm, Sweden (2022); Bonnefantenmuseum, Maastricht, Netherlands (2022); Sharjah Art Foundation, Sharjah, UAE, (2021); Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Texas, US (2020); Sursock Museum, Beirut, Lebanon (2017). His work has been included in numerous group exhibitions and Biennales including Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan (2023); Bozar – Centre for Fine Arts, Brussels, Germany (2022); GAA Foundation, Venice Biennial, Venice(2019); 14 Sharjah Biennale, Sharjah, UAE (2019); Armenian Pavilion, Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy (2015); Armenian Pavilion,
Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy (2014 & 2011).

His works are featured in major private and public collections including Bonnefanten, Maastricht, The Netherlands; The Farjam Collection, Dubai, UAE; Fondazione Cari Spezia, Italy; Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Modena, Italy; The Khalid Shoman Collection, Amman; Modern Art Museum of Forth Worth, US; Mori Museum, Tokyo, Japan; Sharjah Art Foundation, United Arab Emirates; Tate Modern, London, UK; Utah Museum of Fine Arts, Salt Lake City, US.

Hrair Sarkissian's work is currently on view in a solo presentation at Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Wolverhampton, UK until 22 June 2025.