Chris Jacoub

Chris Jacoub's journey as an artist is deeply rooted in his experience as an Armenian religious refugee from Tehran, Iran, where cultural displacement, oppression, and resilience have shaped his distinctive artistic voice. Born in 1992, Chris fled Iran with his family in 2005, settling in Vienna, Austria, waiting for approval to enter the United States. After his dad’s passing, after one month of moving to the US, Chris, along with his mother and younger sister, settled in Northern California, where he navigated the complexities of learning a new language, depression, and cultural adaptation while nurturing his creative passions through piano and drawing.

 

His artistic evolution took a decisive turn after relocating to Los Angeles in his late teens. In 2017, Chris discovered his true medium in painting, developing a signature style that masterfully combines acrylics and oils on black canvas. This dark foundation has become more than a technical choice—it's a philosophical statement that sets the stage for his exploration of life's profound dualities, such as life and death, darkness and lightness, colorful and colorless.

 

Chris's work is characterized by its haunting beauty. It frequently features skeletal figures and skull portraits that serve as powerful vehicles for personal narrative. These memento mori are not merely reminders of mortality but complex meditations on existence, informed by his experiences as a refugee and the loss of his loved ones, resulting in his deep appreciation for life's precious moments. The artist's background as a religious refugee has instilled in him a unique perspective on human resilience and the depth of familial bonds, themes that persistently emerge in his work.

 

Drawing inspiration from his travels and his family's unwavering support, Chris transforms observations of the world into striking visual narratives. His breakthrough piece, "Unconditional Love," inspired by his parents' boundless affection, has garnered over 300 million views across social media platforms, where his artistic process has become a mesmerizing performance for a global audience. This intersection of traditional painting and digital engagement has democratized access to his art, leading to a widespread collection of his works and prints among diverse audiences worldwide.

 

Chris's artistic practice stands as a testament to the transformative power of art in processing displacement, cultural identity, and human connection. Through his distinctive aesthetic approach and emotionally resonant subjects, he creates works that speak to both personal experience and universal human conditions, bridging cultural divides through the language of visual art.