At Buro247 Middle East, we are committed to showcasing and celebrating the extraordinary talent in the Arab world. With our column, #BuroSpotlights, we bring you stories of pioneering artists, innovative designers, tech trailblazers, cinematic visionaries, sports stars, and more.
This week, #BuroSpotlights Lebanese-Armenian artist Nayirie Keuteklian.
Some artists paint what they see; Nayirie Keuteklian paints what she feels, thinks, and questions. Her canvases unravel psychological states, explore transformation, and challenge perception. Based in Beirut, Keuteklian is carving her own path in the pop surrealist movement, blending classical techniques with a dreamlike, whimsical aesthetic that lingers in the mind long after you’ve seen her work.
With a master’s degree in sacred art from USEK, she possesses a technical foundation steeped in historical craftsmanship. But while her background is rooted in tradition, her artistic voice is distinctly modern, filled with surreal distortions and symbolic imagery that speak to the complexities of human transformation.
At the core of Keuteklian’s work is a deep exploration of metamorphosis. Her paintings capture a transformation, illustrating the tension between purity and complexity. Through recurring motifs like wide-eyed girls, bubbles, candies, and lollipops, she juxtaposes fleeting innocence with the depth that comes from personal growth. These elements, seemingly playful on the surface, take on a layered meaning, evoking nostalgia while hinting at something more profound beneath.
Her characters’ exaggerated eyes—often dreamlike and haunting—serve as windows into their evolving psyches. They invite the viewer to look beyond the surface, suggesting a deeper insight into the subject’s internal world. Change in her paintings is not linear but fluid, shaped by experience, emotion, and time.
Keuteklian’s creative process is anything but rigid. She begins with a rough idea, a palette, or a composition, but the painting itself dictates where it wants to go. Each layer of paint introduces new ideas, emotions, and connections, making her process one of constant experimentation rather than strict execution.
Her influences lie in the masters of pop surrealism, where dreamlike distortion meets cultural references. But what sets her apart is her choice of medium—oil and egg tempera, techniques deeply rooted in classical and sacred art. This deliberate fusion of old and new not only pays homage to her artistic lineage but also pushes contemporary art into new territory.
Beyond her own creations, Keuteklian has been working in painting restoration at BeMA Museum since 2017, preserving and reviving historical works. This dual role—both artist and conservator—further cements her connection to the past, allowing her to bring centuries-old techniques into a contemporary setting.
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