# Raffi Kalenderian URL: https://vielmetter.com/artists/raffi-kalenderian/ Has exhibited with Vielmetter Los Angeles Raffi Kalenderian’s painting practice centers around portraiture, and explores the possibilities of representation and individuality. Most widely known for his colorfully saturated portraits painted from life, Kalenderian’s work highlights both the psychological state of his sitters and the formal possibilities of their clothing, appearance, and environment. The paintings are composed to establish a tension between the often densely rendered surroundings that the sitter occupies and their solitude. He often paints the people he is closest with, his friends, family, significant others, and the resulting images convey the intimacy they share. In many works, the subjects of his paintings are the focal point, but the background is charged in such a way that it becomes like an extension or secondary representation of that individual. The combination of the flatness of Kalenderian’s works, the off-kilter perspective, and the contrasting colors all create a nonhierarchical composition, suggesting that the armchair a person sits on, for instance, is also permeated by the individual’s psychological state. In recent years, Kalenderian has pursued painting landscapes, equally as expressive and emotive as his portrait paintings, the heavily saturated foliage and mountainscapes are imbued with the presence of another being. Raffi Kalenderian was born in 1981 in Los Angeles, where he continues to live and work. He graduated with a BFA from University of California, Los Angeles in 2004. His work has been the subject of solo exhibitions at Vielmetter Los Angeles, Los Angeles (CA); Miles McEnery Gallery, New York (NY); Galerie Peter Kilchmann, Zürich (Switzerland); Nassima Landau Foundation, Tel Aviv (Israel); Buchmann Galerie, Berlin (Germany); Brand New Gallery, Milan (Italy); among others. He has had his work featured in group exhibitions at Vielmetter Los Angeles, Los Angeles (CA); Miles McEnery Gallery, New York (NY); Galerie Peter Kilchmann, Zürich (Switzerland); Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara (CA); Setareh Gallery, Düsselford (Germany); Saatchi Gallery, London (UK); among many others. He has completed residencies at the Idyllwild Arts Academy, Idyllwild, CA and St. Barthélemy, French West Indies. His work is held in the public collections of the Carolyn Campagna Kleefeld Contemporary Art Museum, California State University, Long Beach (CA), Georgia Museum of Art, Athens (GA), Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach (CA), Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles (CA), the Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis (MN) and the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara, CA. ## Exhibitions - [Spotlight: Raffi Kalenderian](https://vielmetter.com/exhibitions/spotlight-raffi-kalenderian-2026.md): February 14 — April 11, 2026 · Viewing Room · Artists: Raffi Kalenderian - [Raffi & Al’s Legendary Garden Party](https://vielmetter.com/exhibitions/raffi-als-legendary-garden-party.md): February 27 — April 20, 2024 · Greenhouse · Artists: Raffi Kalenderian - [New Works by Lavaughan Jenkins, Mario Joyce, Raffi Kalenderian, Kiriakos Tompolidis](https://vielmetter.com/exhibitions/new-works-by-lavaughan-jenkins-mario-joyce-raffi-kalenderian-kiriakos-tompolidis.md): January 13 — March 9, 2024 · Greenhouse · Artists: Lavaughan Jenkins, Raffi Kalenderian, Mario Joyce - [Perpetual Portrait](https://vielmetter.com/exhibitions/perpetual-portrait.md): July 8 — August 18, 2023 · Gallery I & II & III & IV · Artists: Laura Aguilar, Sadie Benning, Ellen Berkenblit, Sara Berman, Kwesi Botchway, Andrea Bowers, Kim Dingle, Nicole Eisenman, Esther Pearl Watson, Genevieve Gaignard, Karl Haendel, Lavaughan Jenkins, Raffi Kalenderian, The Estate of Pope.L, Robert Pruitt, Paul Mpagi Sepuya, Amy Sillman, John Sonsini, Nicola Tyson, Hannah van Bart, Monique van Genderen - [Plants Now!](https://vielmetter.com/exhibitions/plants-now.md): July 16 — August 26, 2022 · Gallery II & Greenhouse · Artists: Edgar Arceneaux, Math Bass, Whitney Bedford, Sadie Benning, Ellen Berkenblit, Andrea Bowers, Kim Dingle, Genevieve Gaignard, Nash Glynn, Raffi Kalenderian, Hugo McCloud, Rodney McMillian, Paul Mpagi Sepuya, Nicola Tyson, Tâm Văn Trần, Ariane Vielmetter, Shanna Waddell, Esther Pearl Watson, Mark Todd, Patrick Wilson, Bari Ziperstein - [Raffi Kalenderian: Before the Moon Falls](https://vielmetter.com/exhibitions/raffi-kalenderian.md): January 22 — March 5, 2022 · Gallery I · Artists: Raffi Kalenderian - [20 Years Anniversary Exhibition Part 1](https://vielmetter.com/exhibitions/20-year-anniversary-exhibition.md): July 18 — August 29, 2020 · Gallery I · Artists: Edgar Arceneaux, Math Bass, Whitney Bedford, Andrea Bowers, Kim Dingle, Sean Duffy, Nicole Eisenman, Genevieve Gaignard, Liz Glynn, Karl Haendel, Raffi Kalenderian, Ruben Ochoa, Stanya Kahn, Hayv Kahraman, Mary Kelly, Shana Lutker, Dave McKenzie, Rodney McMillian, Wangechi Mutu, Esther Pearl Watson, The Estate of Pope.L, Deborah Roberts, The Estate of Steve Roden, Stefanie Schneider, Amy Sillman, Arlene Shechet, John Sonsini, Monique van Genderen, Tâm Văn Trần, Patrick Wilson - [Raffi Kalenderian: Memento Vivo](https://vielmetter.com/exhibitions/raffi-kalenderian-memento-vivo.md): May 18 — June 29, 2019 · Artists: Raffi Kalenderian - [Raffi Kalenderian: For the Dead](https://vielmetter.com/exhibitions/2016-07-raffi-kalenderian-for-the-dead.md): July 16 — August 27, 2016 · Artists: Raffi Kalenderian - [Raffi Kalenderian](https://vielmetter.com/exhibitions/2014-05-raffi-kalenderian-raffi-kalenderian.md): May 31 — July 5, 2014 · Artists: Raffi Kalenderian - [Raffi Kalenderian: Currents, Undercurrents, and Maneuvers](https://vielmetter.com/exhibitions/2012-01-raffi-kalenderian-currents-undercurrents-and-maneuvers.md): January 7 — February 11, 2012 · Artists: Raffi Kalenderian ## Biography 1981 Born in Los Angeles, CA Lives and works in Los Angeles, CA 2004 BFA, University of California, Los Angeles Residency, Idyllwild Arts Academy, Idyllwild, CA 2007 Residency, St Barthélemy, French West Indies **Selected Solo Exhibitions** 2026 "Spotlight: Raffi Kalenderian," Vielmetter Los Angeles, CA 2025 "Bathers (Nothing Comes From Nothing)," Miles McEnery Gallery, New York, NY 2024 "Eighteen With a Bullet," Galerie Peter Kilchmann, Paris, France 2023 "Raffi Kalenderian: Call The Curtain / Raise The Roof/ Spirits On Tonight," Miles McEnery Gallery, New York, NY 2022 "Across the way moved in a pair , With passion in its prime, Maybe they look through to us, And hope that's them in time," Peter Kilchmann, Zurich, Switzerland "Before The Moon Falls," Vielmetter Los Angeles, CA 2021 "Raffi Kalenderian," Nassima Landau Foundation, Tel Aviv, Israel 2020 "Raffii Kalenderian," Miles McEnery Gallery, New York, NY 2019 "Memento Vivo," Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects, Culver City, CA 2018 "Always in Rare Form," Buchmann Galerie, Berlin, Germany ([Link](http://www.buchmanngalerie.com/exhibitions/raffi-kalenderian-0#start)) 2017 "Portraits," Peter Kilchmann, Zurich, Switzerland ([Link](http://www.peterkilchmann.com/exhibitions/current/++/title/portraits/id/164/)) 2016 "For the Dead," Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects, Culver City, CA "Green River," Brand New Gallery, Milan, Italy 2015 "To Walk Through the Night," Peter Kilchmann, Zurich, Switzerland 2014 "Raffi Kalenderian," Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects, Culver City, CA "Raffi Kalenderian," Buchmann Galerie, Berlin, Germany 2013 "Paint Work," Buchmann Galerie, Berlin, Germany 2012 "Interior Life," Galerie Peter Kilchmann, Zurich, Switzerland "Currents, Undercurrents, and Maneuvers," Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects, Culver City, CA 2011 "Raffi Kalenderian," Brand New Gallery, Milan, Italy 2010 "Memoranda," Galerie Peter Kilchmann, Zurich, Switzerland 2008 "Satellites," Galerie Peter Kilchmann, Zurich, Switzerland 2007 "Palimpsest: Selected Works on Paper," Marc Jancou Fine Art, New York, NY 2006 "Wicked Waters," Medium, St. Barthlemy, French West Indies "Born Under Punches," Black Dragon Society, Los Angeles, CA **Selected Group Exhibitions** 2026-2027 "Selections from the Beth Rudin DeWoody Collection," The Juilliard School, New York, NY 2025 "OCEAN," Ezra Gallery, The Hamptons, Sag Harbor, NY 2024-2025 "All Bangers, All The Time," Miles McEnery Gallery, New York, NY 2024 "Oasis," La Loma Projects, Los Angeles, CA "Overserved," Curated by Raffi Kalenderian and Alberto Cuadros, Miles McEnery Gallery, New York, NY "Raffi and Al's Legendary Garden Party," Vielmetter Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA "New Works by Lavaughan Jenkins, Mario Joyce, Raffi Kalenderian, Kiriakos Tompolidis," Vielmetter Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 2023 "Perpetual Portrait," Vielmetter Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA "Horizon Line," ABR Contemporary, Miami Beach, FL 2022 "New Visions," Curated by Andrew Reed and Sophia Kardonski, THE LOVE YOU GALLERY, Miami, FL 2021 "In the Meanwhile…Recent Acquisitions of Contemporary Art," Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara, CA "Via Cafe," Tif Sigfrids, Comer, GA 2020 "20 Years," Vielmetter Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 2019 "What is an edition, anyway?," McEvoy Foundation for the Arts, San Francisco, CA 2018 "Genius Loci", Setareh Gallery, Düsseldorf, Germany "To our Fellow Artists and Poets who are Confused About Which Way to Go,” Lundgren Gallery, Palma de Mallorca, Spain 2017 "Hotel Kalifornia," Galerie Lefebvre & Fils, Paris, France "Whats Up New York," LVH Art, New York 2016 "Painter's Painters," Saatchi Gallery, London, UK “A Verdant Summer,” Taymour Grahne, New York, NY “Imagine,” Brand New Gallery, Milan, Italy 2013 "Body Language," Saatchi Gallery, London, UK 2011 "Goldmine," curated by Christopher Scoates, UAM, University Art Museum, Long Beach, CA 2010 "Crystal World," Buchmann Galerie, Berlin, Germany "Die Nase des Michelangelo," Galerie Peter Kilchmann at Marktgasse, Zurich, Switzerland "Painting," curated by Roger Herman, LA Art House, Los Angeles, CA "Portraits de Collectionneurs," Muro Gallery, Chtelaine, Switzerland "Next Generation," Kunstmuseum St Gallen, St Gallen, Switzerland 2008 "L.A. Potential: HangArt 7," Salzburg, curated by Lioba Reddeker "Faces and Figures (Revisited)," Marc Jancou Contemporary, New York, NY "Stories: Portraits," Eleven Rivington, New York, NY "Some Paintings: The Third (2007)," LA Weekly Annual Biennal, Track 16 Gallery, Santa Monica, CA 2007 "Cali in CPH, Part ii: Bucket of Ice," Co-Lab, Copenhagen, Denmark "Warhol &," Kantor/Feuer Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 2006 "Fall," Black Dragon Society, Los Angeles, CA "Boat Show," High Energy Constructs, Los Angeles, CA "Just My Funny Way of Laughing," South La Brea Gallery, Inglewood, CA 2005 "Christmas in July," Black Dragon Society, Los Angeles, CA 2004 "Walk You Home If You Walk Me Home Right After," Los Angeles, CA, curated by Eric Palgon "Dear Summertime," Black Dragon Society, Los Angeles, CA "Living in the Ice Age," University of California, Los Angeles, CA 2003 "UCLA Undergraduate Juried Show," Official Selection, Los Angeles, CA "New Work," University of Leeds, Leeds, UK **Bibliography** 2025 Miles McEnery Gallery. "In The Studio With Raffi Kalenderian And Friends," Artforum, May 1 2023 Artnet Gallery Network. "5 Trending Artists Grabbing the Attention of the Artnet Gallery Network This August," Artnet, August 4 2022 Kalenderian, Raffi. "Why This Art: Traveling Through Time with ‘The Portal of Rouen Cathedral in Morning Light’," Alta, December 21 ([Link](https://www.altaonline.com/culture/art/a42156083/why-this-art-claude-monet-raffi-kalenderian/)) Anderson, Mitchell. "Raffi Kalenderian’s Kaleidoscopic Compositions," Frieze, July 19 ([Link](https://www.frieze.com/article/raffi-kalenderian-peter-kilchmann-2022-review)) 2021 Soloski, Alexis. "What Megan Mullally Likes: Soft T-Shirts and Sad Songs," New York Times, Feb 9 2019 De Witt, Olivia. "Raffi Kalenderian," Artillery, June 26 ([Link](https://artillerymag.com/vielmetter-los-angeles-raffi-kalenderian/)) Irvin, Rebecca. "Raffi Kalenderian celebrates life in his exuberant, colourful, painted portraits," It's Nice That, June 7 ([Link](https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/raffi-kalenderian-memento-vivo-art-070619)) McNay, Anna. "Raffi Kalenderian – interview: ‘It’s like banging your head against a brick wall, but if you get through to the other side it feels so good'," Studio International, June 4 ([Link](https://www.studiointernational.com/index.php/raffi-kalenderian-interview-its-like-banging-your-head-against-brick-wall-memento-vivo-vielmetter)) 2018 Nash, David. "Kendall Wilkinson Outfits the $15.5 Million Penthouse at San Francisco's 181 Fremont," Architectural Digest, October 30 ([Link](https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/kendall-wilkinson-181-fremont-penthouse-15-million/all)) 2017 Mahony, Anna, “Must-See Art Guide: Zurich,” artnet news (web), December 14 ([Link](https://news.artnet.com/exhibitions/zurich-art-guide-december-2017-1177682)) Black, Ezrha Jean, “Best in Show 2016,” Artillery, January/February ([Link](http://artillerymag.com/best-show-2016/)) 2016 Seed, John, “Raffi Kalenderian: ‘For the Dead,’ at Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects,” Huffington Post, August 23 ([Link](https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/raffi-kalenderian-for-the-dead-at-susanne-vielmetter_us_57bcf05de4b007f1819a421f)) Wagley, Catherine, “5 Free Art Shows to See in LA This Week,” LA Weekly (web), July 27 2015 Seed, John, “Collecting: Robert Shiell,” art ltd., March/April ([Link](https://www.docdroid.net/BWcPdKg/col-robert-shiell.pdf)) 2014 Shaw, Michael. "Raffi Kalenderian," ArtScene, July/August "15 Young Art Stars to Keep Your Eye On," Complex, September 28 2012 Buckley, Annie, "Review: 'Raffi Kalenderian: Currents, Undercurrents, and Maneuvers,' " Art in America, April 2012 Raffi Kalenderian, Modern Painters, New York, April 2011 Latimer, Quinn. "The Nose of Michelangelo," Frieze, March, p. 142 2010 Raffi Kalenderian, Brand New Gallery, Milan, ex. cat. So kommen Sie gut durch 2011, Art Basel Miami Beach, Eva Karcher, Sddeutsche Zeitung, Wochenende, Munich, No. 303, Dec. 31, p. 5 Raffi Kalenderian, Kunst 10 Zrich, Zurich, Nov. 11 14, pp. 84 85 cat. Eine kleine Dsternis ist immer da, Ruth Hndler, Capital, Hamburg, No. 9, p. 135 Portraits de Collectionneurs, Tindaro Gagliano, Muro Gallery, Chtelaine, ex.cat. Meier, Philipp. "Monumentalitt und Zuversicht," NZZ, Zurich, Oct. 16, p. 57 2009 Raffi Kalenderian, Frieze Yearbook, London, England Meltzer, Burkhard. "Raffi Kalenderian," Frieze, March 2008 Reddeker, Lioba. "L.A. Potential: HangArt 7," Basis Wien, Austria Kugelman, Kerry. "Raffi Kalenderian at Black Dragon Society," Art Ltd., May Truong, Hong-An. "A Look at Raffi Kalenederian," Artslant, March Harvey, Doug. "Some Paintings," LA Weekly, January **Group Exhibition Catalogues and Books** 2010 Portraits de Collectionneurs, text by Tindaro Gagliano. Muro Gallery, Châtelaine, Switzerland Raffi Kalenderian: Memoranda, text by Doug Harvey, Nieves Books, Zurich (monograph) **Public Collections** Carolyn Campagna Kleefeld Contemporary Art Museum, California State University, Long Beach, CA Georgia Museum of Art, Athens, GA Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, CA Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara, CA