Arman Komandarian was born in Yerevan, Armenia, in 1971. Arman understood, from a very young age, what being born into his country meant. Armenians are a deeply spiritual people, infused with an understanding that we have been put on this earth to create, produce, and fulfill God’s purpose. Armenia was the first country to convert to Christianity, in 301 AD. The churches and music of Armenia, and Arman’s art, speak to the deepest place in all of us. His deer speak to our sweet longing for God. His tree of life is our hope of building connection among all of God’s creatures.

Arman grew up in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, under Mount Ararat. As an adolescent, he began various ventures, and studied art and design at Yerevan University. At nineteen, Arman visited Jerusalem and stayed, being pulled by this spiritual center of Christianity, Jerusalem and Islam.

Old Jerusalem has four quarters, the Jewish Quarter, the Christian Quarter, the Arab or Muslim Quarter, and the Armenia Quarter.
When Armenians first came to Jerusalem in the thirteenth century, they brought their music and built their churches. These churches contain the ceramic art of Armenia. Armenian ceramics have lived on and blossomed in the powerful, turbulent spiritual soil of Jerusalem.

Arman began his ceramic art in old Jerusalem, where he studied Judaism and learned Hebrew and Arabic. Today, his small factory and gallery are located on Slomo in the Jewish commercial section of Jerusalem. Until recently, the workers in his factory have been Jews and Arab Muslims, Russian and Armenian Christians, working together.

Arman’s work can be found all over Israel and around the world. His largest work is found in the entry of the Israeli Electricity Corporation, where a 6 by 12 meter mural in tiles of Darian’s vision of the modern world can be found. Arman has contributed to various museums, including the Rabin museum, under construction. He has participated with architects in building homes and commercial spaces, where Arman’s ceramic panels are featured as carpets, on walls and outdoors, in patios. And tourists from many nations have commissioned pieces, and brought home panels, tiles, vases, tableware, and Judaica from Arman’s gallery.

Arman Darian has been recognized as Jerusalem’s leading Armenian ceramic artist. Numerous articles have been written about his art. His work has been featured on a poster of the Israel Tourism Board. He has been asked to do an exhibition at the Smithsonian. When the Clintons visited Israel in 1998, Arman Darian’s work was exhibited, and his was the official gift to guests at the state dinner honoring the US President and First Lady. In 2002, Arman will begin showing his work in New York City.