Binghamton oil painter honors Armenian culture through art

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – The Broome County Arts Council is supporting a Binghamton-based oil painter this month as she works to keep the spirit and the stories of the Armenian people alive.

Jacqueline Kachadourian is the Arts Council’s Artist in Residence for the month of March.

Kachadourian studied painting and theatre at Binghamton University. While she was earning her degree, she researched the history of the Armenian people.

Through the use of both abstract expressionism and representational imagery, Kachadourian reflects Armenian culture, its people, and the hardships they’ve faced.

The collection she is working on now focuses on landscapes from Artsakh, a land where Armenian people once lived, but was taken over by Azerbaijan in 2023.

Being of Armenian descent herself, Kachadourian says both sides of her family have experienced genocide firsthand. She says it’s an honor to be able to share her art and heritage with the community.

“Being able to share those stories through my paintings is really important because a lot of times, not many people know about the Armenian genocide, and most recently, the displacement of people in Artsakh. I doubt anyone knows about that. It’s so unfortunate and very heartbreaking, and I think having a chance to talk about it through my paintings is one of the most important things I can do,” said Kachadourian.

The Artist in Residence program provides individuals with 24-hour access to studio space in downtown Binghamton. At the end of their given month, they will be able to showcase the art they’ve created at their own First Friday show.

Kachadourian’s show will take place on April 3 from 6 to 9 and April 4 from 11 to 3.

The Arts Council is seeking artists for its next round of the program. Applications can be found by clicking here.