Art

Armenian art is a distinct kind of art that has evolved over the last five millennia as the Armenian people have lived on the Armenian Highland. Armenian architecture and miniature painting have dominated Armenian art for centuries and have demonstrated steady progress. Sculpture, fresco, mosaic, ceramic, metalwork, engraving, and textiles, particularly Armenian carpets, are other genres of Armenian art.

In the Iron Age, Prehistoric Armenia was home to the Urartu civilisation, which was known for its early metal sculptures, often of animals. The region was frequently contested by the huge empires controlling the adjacent regions of Persia, Mesopotamia, and Anatolia, all of which had a significant influence on Armenian art. The Armenians were early converts to Christianity, and they produced their own version of Eastern Christian art, making extensive use of icons, Armenian miniatures in books, and the unique architecture of their churches and monasteries. The prevalence of figurative relief carvings on the outside of churches, which was unknown in Byzantium, was a particular Armenian trait that may have impacted European Medieval art.

The National Art Gallery in Yerevan houses almost 16,000 pieces dating back to the Middle Ages, illustrating Armenia's rich tales and legends of the time. It also houses works by various European masters. Other notable collections of fine art on display in Yerevan include the Modern Art Museum, the Children's Picture Gallery, and the Martiros Saryan Museum. Furthermore, there are many private galleries in operation, with many more opening every year, with rotating exhibitions and sales.