An exhibit featuring the artwork of abstract expressionism artist Arshile Gorky will open at the Armenian Museum of America in Watertown on Dec. 12. Gorky lived in Watertown for a time, arriving in 1920 as part of a third wave of Armenians immigrants looking to escape persecution. See more details in the announcement from the museum below.
We are proud to announce the opening of a landmark exhibition, Arshile Gorky: Redrawing Community and Connections, on December 12, 2025. This is the first exhibition of Gorky’s work in an Armenian museum, and it caps off a series of programs initiated by the “100 Years of Arshile Gorky” Committee in the City of Watertown.
Explore the life and legacy of Arshile Gorky (c. 1904–1948), a self-taught artist whose work helped launch Abstract Expressionism and transform modern art in America. This exhibition highlights Gorky’s journey from his early life as Vostanik Manoug Adoian in Watertown to his emergence as a celebrated artist, emphasizing the relationships and sense of community that shaped his art. Through works shared by family, fellow artists, and the Armenian Diaspora, the exhibition reveals how Gorky used art to process loss, build connection, and redefine what it meant to be an artist in America creating not just compositions, but a lasting community.
The exhibition is sponsored by the JHM Charitable Foundation and curated by Kim S. Theriault, author of Rethinking Arshile Gorky.
Read more about the Gorky exhibit by clicking here.
The Armenian Museum of America is located at 65 Main St. in Watertown, and is open Thursday through Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. See more information at www.armenianmuseum.org