Biography

Zaven Khachikyan is highly regarded as Armenia’s top documentary and artistic photographer, and he is often considered one of the most influential photographers of his generation in Armenia.  He was born in 1955 in Mergri, Armenia and studied Physics, Philosophy, and Fine Arts.

Khachikyan documented the struggles and joys of a society in great flux, producing works that have been celebrated equally for their compassion, powerful statements, and artistry.  In addition to collaborating with many of Armenia’s most respected newspapers and magazines as a photojournalist and photo essayist, Khachikyan has worked as a freelancer with AP, TASS, Time, Paris Match, and other international media organizations.

At the same time, Khachikyan was the first to define commercial photography in Armenia, bringing high-production values and his indelible style to projects in poster design, public-awareness campaigns, and advertising.

Khachikyan has also been instrumental in launching and directing a number of far-reaching photographic and cultural programs. He founded the East-West Intercultural Relations Center in Yerevan, and during the late 1990s through the early 2000s, he oversaw a diverse publishing and educational initiative for children (directed a number of pioneering photography-training projects) and youth (created two specialized online photography forums) with sponsorships from the Eurasia Foundation, Open Society Institute (OSI), and UNICEF.

Khachikyan’s photography has appeared in nearly a dozen books, with publishers ranging from the British Library and Paris-Musées to Somogy and Indiana University Press.

Khachikyan has also held exhibitions of his thematic works throughout Europe, Armenia, Russia, and the United States.  One of the more notable exhibits Khachikyan participated in was, “Crossing Borders between Turkey and Armenia,” launched by the Institute for Historical Justice and Reconciliation (IHJR) in 2013. A visual dialogue between three photographers: Zaven Khachikyan of Armenia, Mesut Tufan of Turkey, and Kadir van Lohuizen of the Netherlands.  

With awards including Best Photojournalist of the Year by Union of Journalists of Armenia, and recently received the Republic of Armenia Presidential Award, Khachikyan today remains at the vanguard of international photography, with a distinct imprint known for both its narrative vision and cutting-edge techniques.  

 

MEMBERSHIP
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)

London Photographic Association

Yerevan Press Club (YPC)

Biography

Zaven Khachikyan is highly regarded as Armenia’s top documentary and artistic photographer, and he is often considered one of the most influential photographers of his generation in Armenia.  He was born in 1955 in Mergri, Armenia and studied Physics, Philosophy, and Fine Arts.

Khachikyan documented the struggles and joys of a society in great flux, producing works that have been celebrated equally for their compassion, powerful statements, and artistry.  In addition to collaborating with many of Armenia’s most respected newspapers and magazines as a photojournalist and photo essayist, Khachikyan has worked as a freelancer with AP, TASS, Time, Paris Match, and other international media organizations.

At the same time, Khachikyan was the first to define commercial photography in Armenia, bringing high-production values and his indelible style to projects in poster design, public-awareness campaigns, and advertising.

Khachikyan has also been instrumental in launching and directing a number of far-reaching photographic and cultural programs.. He founded the East-West Intercultural Relations Center in Yerevan, and during the late 1990s through the early 2000s, he oversaw a diverse publishing and educational initiative for children (directed a number of pioneering photography-training projects) and youth (created two specialized online photography forums) with sponsorships from the Eurasia Foundation, Open Society Institute (OSI), and UNICEF.

Khachikyan’s photography has appeared in nearly a dozen books, with publishers ranging from the British Library and Paris-Musées to Somogy and Indiana University Press.

Khachikyan has also held exhibitions of his thematic works throughout Europe, Armenia, Russia, and the United States.  One of the more notable exhibits Khachikyan participated in was, “Crossing Borders between Turkey and Armenia,” launched by the Institute for Historical Justice and Reconciliation (IHJR) in 2013. A visual dialogue between three photographers: Zaven Khachikyan of Armenia, Mesut Tufan of Turkey, and Kadir van Lohuizen of the Netherlands.  

With awards including Best Photojournalist of the Year by Union of Journalists of Armenia, and recently received the Republic of Armenia Presidential Award, Khachikyan today remains at the vanguard of international photography, with a distinct imprint known for both its narrative vision and cutting-edge techniques.  

 

MEMBERSHIP
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)

London Photographic Association

Yerevan Press Club (YPC)