Zaven Khachikyan

Zaven Khachikyan is widely recognized as Armenia’s leading documentary and artistic photographer and is often regarded as one of the most influential photographers of his generation in the country. Born in 1955 in Mergri, Armenia, he pursued studies in Physics, Philosophy, and Fine Arts.

Throughout his career, Khachikyan captured the struggles and triumphs of a society undergoing significant change, producing works celebrated for their empathy, impactful messages, and artistic expression. Alongside his collaborations with some of Armenia’s most esteemed newspapers and magazines as a photojournalist and photo essayist, he has freelanced for international media organizations such as AP, TASS, Time, and Paris Match.

Khachikyan was also a pioneer in commercial photography in Armenia, introducing high production values and his signature style to poster design, public-awareness campaigns, and advertising projects.

He has been instrumental in launching and leading several important photographic and cultural programs. As the founder of the East-West Intercultural Relations Center in Yerevan, he spearheaded publishing and educational initiatives for children and youth in the late 1990s and early 2000s. These initiatives, which included photography training projects and online photography forums, were supported by organizations like the Eurasia Foundation, Open Society Institute (OSI), and UNICEF.

Khachikyan’s photography has been featured in nearly a dozen books, with notable publishers including the British Library, Paris-Musées, Somogy, and Indiana University Press.

His thematic exhibitions have been displayed across Europe, Armenia, Russia, and the United States. Among the most prominent was “Crossing Borders between Turkey and Armenia,” a visual dialogue between three photographers—Khachikyan from Armenia, Mesut Tufan from Turkey, and Kadir van Lohuizen from the Netherlands—launched by the Institute for Historical Justice and Reconciliation (IHJR) in 2013.

Khachikyan has received numerous accolades, including Best Photojournalist of the Year from the Union of Journalists of Armenia and the prestigious Republic of Armenia Presidential Award. He continues to be at the forefront of international photography, known for his narrative vision and innovative techniques.

Memberships:

• International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
• London Photographic Association
• Yerevan Press Club (YPC)