Museum of Contemporary Art

Sometimes it appears to be quite unbelievable how a small country like Armenia can house such a number of museums each specialized in a particular field. Yet the museums do exist and they never fail to amaze with their remarkable expositions and collections, which are every year being enriched with newer and more impressive items. Perhaps that is the reason why Armenian museums cannot complain about lack of visitors. One such museum that is active all the year round is the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Yerevan Museum of Contemporary Art was founded in 1972 (there might be no link, but still it’s worth mentioning that 1972 is the year when prominent Armenian painter Martiros Saryan passed away). The museum was established due to the efforts of the then Yerevan Mayor, Henrik Igityan and Armenian painters.

Upon its establishment the museum was a unique one and preserved its uniqueness for the next 20 years. The uniqueness of this museum is explained by the fact that it was the first in its kind not only in Armenia and the entire Soviet Union, but also in the whole socialist block. The first exhibition of the museum included works by Armenian painters and only. They were particularly works of art granted to the museum by the artists themselves.

Works displayed in the museum belong to such eminent Armenian artists like Minas Avetisyan, Ashot Hovhannisyan, Martin Petrosyan, Vruyr Galstyan, the  Elibekyan brothers, Rudolph Khachatryan, Ashot Bayandur and others. Artists of the 1980s are as well introduced in the museum. Among them are Kamo Nigaryan, Albert Hakobyan, Manvel Baghdasaryan, Ruben Grigoryan, Armen Gevorgyan, Vahan Rumelyan, Moko Khachatryan, Gagik Ghazanchyan, Tigran Matulyan, Mushegh Mkhitaryan, Teni Vardanyan, Gabriel Manukyan, Sargis Hamalbashyan and so on.

Among the recent activities of the museum it should be noted that in 2004 benefactor Grigor Muradyan donated to the museum the works of outstanding US-Armenian artist and sculptor Emil Kazaz. Later in 2007 a new building was allocated to the museum. The building houses works by artists of middle and younger generations.

Working Days/Hours/Tickets

The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm. The museum is closed on Mondays. The ticket to the museum will cost you 500 Dram. Guided tours are available in Armenian and foreign languages. A guided tour in Armenian will cost you 2000 Dram, while in a foreign language 2500 Dram.

Free Days

The museum has an option of free entrance for schoolchildren and students. For them the museum will require no fee on the third and fourth Friday of each month.

Address: 7, Mashtots Avenue
Tel.: (374 10) 535 359, (374 10) 539 637
Fax: (374 10) 539 637
E-mail: [email protected]