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Kaloust Guedel (born October 31, 1956, in
Nicosia, Cyprus) is a self-educated American artist, theorist, and
curator.
He moved to Los Angeles in 1975, with his family from Soviet
Armenia. Known for his experimental and conceptual
approach, his art spans a wide range of themes and mediums,
consistently reflecting his critical stance on
contemporary issues.
Guedel's artistic journey is defined by continuous reinvention and
exploration. One of his key contributions to
the art world is his pioneering use of vinyl as a painting medium,
marking a significant departure from traditional
materials. Over the course of his career, Guedel has embraced a
variety of techniques, yet his work consistently
remains intellectually engaging and socially conscious.
In 2022, Guedel rediscovered the ancient inlay technique, which
became the foundation of his "Immersive
Paintings" series. By embedding three-dimensional objects into his
paintings, Guedel creates a powerful visual
dynamic that explores the interplay between positive and negative
elements—furthering his exploration of
space and viewer interaction.
Best known for founding the Excessivism movement, Guedel
officially introduced it through the "Excessivist
Initiative" exhibition at the LA Artcore Gallery in 2015. The
manifesto was published in Downtown News on
September 28, 2015, and recorded in the Library of Congress.
Excessivism critiques the contemporary consumer
urge to exceed necessity, offering a commentary on materialism. The
movement has been recognized by critics
such as Shana Nys Dambrot, who emphasized its relevance in
contemporary art.
Guedel’s work has been exhibited internationally in renowned venues,
including the Tokyo Metropolitan Art
Museum, the National Art Center in Tokyo, the Busan Cultural Center
in Seoul, the Nagasaki Fine Art Museum in
Japan, and the Beijing GuanYin Art Street in China. His art is part
of prestigious collections, including The Charles
Saatchi Collection in London and the Contemporary Art Museum in
Yerevan, Armenia. His work has been featured
in numerous publications, including Masters of Today, Eyes On
Abstracts, New American Paintings, The Huffington
Post and others.
In 2012, Guedel was awarded one of the top honors in the global
Saatchi Gallery competition, selected as one of
two winners from over 3,500 artists worldwide. He was also
recognized with the Who’s Who in American Art
Award in 2017.
Throughout his career, Guedel has made significant contributions to
curatorial work, serving as a guest curator for
exhibitions like From Ararat to America: Armenian Contemporary
Artists at Forest Lawn Museums. He also served
as a committee
member for Man’s Inhumanity to Men: Journey Out of Darkness
at the Brand Library Art Galleries.
Additionally, he has curated numerous gallery exhibitions.
Today, Kaloust Guedel continues to be an active and influential
figure in the contemporary art scene, challenging
established norms with his innovative techniques and unwavering
commitment to addressing complex societal
issues through his work.
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