Zari Agopian

I was born in Aleppo, Syria, into a deeply rooted Armenian family and community. From a young age, I was drawn to the delicate beauty of nature and the emotional language of art. My artistic journey began in her teenage years when she attended the renowned Mardiros Saryan Academy in Aleppo. It was during this formative period that I discovered my passion for watercolor landscapes — a medium that allowed me to reflect the serenity, movement, and light of the natural world with delicate precision.
Each summer, the academy would organize retreats to the breathtaking region of Kessab. Nestled in the mountains, Kessab was a haven of inspiration — where pine-covered hills met the Mediterranean Sea at Kaladouran, and the view stretched out toward the borders. These summers were the most joyful and fulfilling times of her youth. Every day, I would rise to the rhythm of nature and complete a new artwork, capturing fleeting moments of stillness and life under the open sky.
However, this creative chapter was cut short by the outbreak of war in the region. The quiet landscapes I once painted were overshadowed by conflict, and my brushes were set aside. My collection of watercolor paintings — created between the ages of 15 and 20 — has been pre...