Kaloust Guedel
Kaloust Guedel (born October 31, 1956) is a Cyprus-born American artist of Armenian descent. He is a self-educated artist and theorist. Guedel is known as the founder of the Excessivism movement.
Kaloust Guedel

Cobrahman · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Name
- Kaloust Guedel
- Born
- 31 October 1956
- Known for
- Painting and Sculpture
- Movement
- Excessivism (founder) Immersive paintings Light and Space
- Nationality
- United States
- Occupation
- painter
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for Kaloust Guedel. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
World of VALÉORINE
Documentary connections
Only confirmed graph relationships appear here. Images are shown only when their identity and reuse rights both pass the documentary gate.
Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q22278045 · wikipedia · Kaloust Guedel
In this article
Biography
Biography
He lives and works in Los Angeles, California since 1975.

Painting by Kaloust Guedel investigating immersion using an old inlay technique, when an object is immersed in painting, Inlay-1, 60in x 48in, 2022
Cobrahman
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Kaloust Guedel • Born — 31 October 1956 • Known for — Painting and Sculpture • Movement — Excessivism (founder) Immersive paintings Light and Space
Works
Works
Kaloust Guedel's work explores contemporary issues often taking a critical stand on various societies shortcomings. Throughout the years, it has explored subjects as genocide, war, abuse and others. Regardless of the styles and technics he has employed, his work has been consistent with contemporary sensibility and has reflected the consciousness of its time. Guedel is the first artist who used vinyl as a medium in paintings. He has been featured in publications like Masters of Today and has been known to explore capitalism and excess in his minimalist conceptual artworks. Kaloust Guedel presented the Excessivism movement in an exhibition "Excessivist Initiative" in LA Artcore Brewery Annex, and the Excessivism Manifesto was published in Downtown News weekly in September 2015. Downtown News, Excessivism Manifesto, September 28, 2015 p. 10.
Selected exhibitions
Selected exhibitions
• Illustration — Coronation of Vagina, 45ft x 16ft, 2016-2017 • Illustration — Immersive paintings, 60" x 48", 2022 • Modern Art Museum of Yerevan, Armenia, 2024 • Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan, 2023 • Lancaster Museum of Art and History, Lancaster, CA, 2023 • Armenian Library and Museum of America, Watertown, Ma., 2022–23 • The National Art Center, Tokyo, Japan, 2019 • Nagasaki Fine Art Museum, Nagasaki, Japan, 2017 • Saatchi Gallery, London, UK 2013 • Sejong Center, So. Korea, 2008 • Modern Art Museum of Yerevan, Armenia, 2005 • Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale), the Museum, Glendale, CA, 2003 • Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, OH, 1986
Immersive paintings
Later he rediscovered inlay technique as a method of investigation of immersion with his new group called Immersive paintings. When he placed one of his three-dimensional works into a painting by carving its shape out of it and inserting it into the hollow space that corresponded with the shape of the object, the result was unexpected. An ancient technique known as inlay was discovered by chance. The use of inlay is a key element of this artistic concepts. The inserted object has more visual weight, while the surrounding space, which is less conceptually important, is seen as the body of the painting. Use of the inlay produces a silhouette of the subject; most often, it is used with a contrasting background, or texture to draw attention to the main subject, which is then seen as the relationship between the two objects.
Awards and commendations
• Illustration — Kaloust Guedel, Visual Gravity #2, 2017 • Laura Friedman, Assemblymember, 43rd Assembly District, April 19, 2019 • Anthony Portantino, Senator, April 19, 2019 • Marquis Who's Who in American Art Lifetime Achievement, 2017 • ArtSlant 1at 2015 Prize Showcase Winner • Adam B. Schiff, Member of Congress, April 25, 2013 • Ara Najarian, Council Member Chair, June 18, 2009 • Frank Quintero, Mayor of Glendale, April 25, 2003 • New American Paintings, Number 31, by The Open Studios Press, 2000
Text attribution
Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Kaloust Guedel, revision 1369594487 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Saatchi Gallery in London to Display Work of Kaloust Guedel - Hetq - News, Articles, Investigations. hetq.am. 24 May 2013.
- 2.Reflections in the Aftermath of an Exhibition. Asbarez.com.
- 3.Excessivism: Irony, Imbalance and a New Rococo. The Huffington Post. 23 September 2015.
- 4.Contemporary Art Exhibits at LA Artcore. www.laartcore.org.
- 5.Kavi Gupta Gallery : News : Roxy Paine - Excessivism, LA Artcore, Los Angeles. kavigupta.com.
- 6.The "EXCESSIVIST INITIATIVE" An Art Exhibition October 2 Through October 29 PRLog. www.prlog.org.
- 7.ART & ENTERTAINMENT IN BRIEF 13/6 - News VietNamNet. english.vietnamnet.vn.
- 8.Armenian Requiem Celebrates Dia De Los Muertos. The Huffington Post. 12 October 2011.
- 9.Garboushian Gallery Premiers '1915' Exhibit. Asbarez.com.
- 10.Boston Herald.
- 11.Old Inlay Technique in Contemporary Art!, September 27, 2022. 12 October 2022.
- 12.Kaloust Guedel – Marquis Who's Who Top Artists.
- 13./ Awards artslant.com
- 14.31 | New American Paintings.
- 15.Convergence: An Exhibit That Keeps The Conversation Alive. by Arpi Sarafian, May 28, 2026. mirrorspectator.com.
- 16.Armenian Diaspora Artists Take Center Stage at Forest Lawn’s New Exhibition. by Melanie Hooks, Feb. 27, 2026. coloradoboulevard.net.
- 17.Kaloust Guedel – Unauthorized Stage of Tension. globalartcritique.com.
- 18.Check Out Kaloust Guedel’s Story. Conducted by Andrea Morgan, Aug 04, 2025. Voyage LA. 4 Aug 2025.
- 19.Kaloust Guedel: Reshaping the Norms of Contemporary Art. Written by Caroline Margaret, July 26, 2025. ShowcaseMyArt. 26 July 2025.
- 20.Meet Kaloust Guedel - Visual Artist.
- 21.Excessivism: The Art of More in a World of Plenty. Written by La Vela Antonino, Aug 25, 2024. Medium. 1 Aug 2024.
- 22.Old Inlay Technique in Contemporary Art.
- 23.Boston Herald. How A Los Angeles Artist Transforms An Ancient Chinese Technique Into Contemporary Painting. September 8, 2022.
- 24.Kaloust Guedel: With Excess in His Veins.
- 25.Irony, Imbalance, and Study at the Heart of Excessivism.
- 26.Diversions LA
- 27.Խառնաշփոթից Դէպի Արուեստ՝ Ըստ Գալուստ Գէոդելի. August 10, 2023.
- 28.Site Suspended - This site has stepped out for a bit.
- 29.Dieffenbacher, Fiona. Fashion Thinking: Creative Approaches to the Design Process. Bloomsbury. 10 December 2020. 9781350082762.
- 30.Ironía, desequilibrio y estudio en el corazón del excesivismo. 3 May 2021.
- 31.Brand Library and Art Center: The Nothing That is. 21 November 2019.
- 32."The Nothing That Is". November 27, 2019.
- 33.Art and museum
- 34.Home. hotartstuff.blogspot.com.
- 35.Opening Reception for Zadik Zadikian Project Studio also Featuring Works by Kaloust Guedel and KuBO + Remarks from Peter Frank - Artillery Magazine.
- 36.List of 8 Light And Space Famous Artists Painters.
- 37.Statement of Excessivism.
- 38.Sunday, January 8, 2017 - Celebrate the Art of Zadikian, Kaloust Guedel, and KuBO!.
- 39.Kaloust Guedel's Excessivism and Trump's Rise to Power. 26 June 2016.
- 40.Widewalls.
- 41.Նոր Ուղղութիւն Արուեստում՝ Պարտադրում Է Ժամանակակից Մարդը. 14 January 2016.
- 42.Abstre Sanat Akımı, Soyut Resim, Abstract. 12 November 2016.
- 43.The Newest Art Movement You've Never Heard Of. www.gallereo.com.
- 44.New Art Movement, Excessivism, is a Commentary on Economic Materialism. March 2025.
- 45.Excessivism is Best Kept Secret in the Art World | FinancialContent Business Page. markets.financialcontent.com.
- 46.Excessivism: Irony, Imbalance and a New Rococo. HuffPost. 23 September 2015.
- 47.Artweek LA May 11, 2015
- 48.Reuters.
- 49."Excess the New Norm" Գալուստ Գեոդելի Նկարչական Գործերի Անհատական Ցուցահանդէսը – Asbarez – Armenian. 29 October 2014.
- 50.Գալուստ Գէօդելի Նկարը Լոնտոնի "Սաաթչի" Ցուցասրահում. 15 August 2013.
- 51.Saatchi Gallery in London to Display Work of Kaloust Guedel. 24 May 2013.
- 52.Exposition "L'inhumanité de l'homme envers l'homme : voyage au bout de la nuit" / Exhibition : "Man's Inhumanity to Man : Journey Out of Darkness".
- 53.Anniversary of Armenian Genocide remembered by artists. Los Angeles Daily News. 22 April 2009.
- 54.Brand library art galleries glendalenewspress.com 2006
Bibliography printed in the source article · 78
- Convergence: An Exhibit That Keeps The Conversation Alive. by Arpi Sarafian, May 28, 2026. mirrorspectator.com.
- Armenian Diaspora Artists Take Center Stage at Forest Lawn’s New Exhibition. by Melanie Hooks, Feb. 27, 2026. coloradoboulevard.net.
- Kaloust Guedel – Unauthorized Stage of Tension. globalartcritique.com.
- Check Out Kaloust Guedel’s Story. Conducted by Andrea Morgan, Aug 04, 2025. Voyage LA. 4 Aug 2025.
- Kaloust Guedel: Reshaping the Norms of Contemporary Art. Written by Caroline Margaret, July 26, 2025. ShowcaseMyArt. 26 July 2025.
- Meet Kaloust Guedel - Visual Artist.
- Excessivism: The Art of More in a World of Plenty. Written by La Vela Antonino, Aug 25, 2024. Medium. 1 Aug 2024.
- 'Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, The 22nd international Art Exchange Exhibition, (exhibition catalog), 2023
- Old Inlay Technique in Contemporary Art.
- Boston Herald. How A Los Angeles Artist Transforms An Ancient Chinese Technique Into Contemporary Painting. September 8, 2022.
- Kaloust Guedel: With Excess in His Veins.
- Irony, Imbalance, and Study at the Heart of Excessivism.
- Diversions LA, All That Glitters, by Genie Davis January 6, 2017 Diversions LA
- Խառնաշփոթից Դէպի Արուեստ՝ Ըստ Գալուստ Գէոդելի. August 10, 2023.
- Site Suspended - This site has stepped out for a bit.
- Dieffenbacher, Fiona. Fashion Thinking: Creative Approaches to the Design Process. Bloomsbury. 10 December 2020. 9781350082762.
- Ironía, desequilibrio y estudio en el corazón del excesivismo. 3 May 2021.
- New American Paintings, 2020 Featured Artists / Recent Work, 2020
- Brand Library and Art Center: The Nothing That is. 21 November 2019.
- "The Nothing That Is". November 27, 2019.
- The Best modern and Contemporary Artists, by Salvator Russo and Francesco Saverio Russo, 2017
- Art & Museum, (p. 48) Autumn 2017 Art and museum
- Home. hotartstuff.blogspot.com.
- Yokohama Civic Gallery At Azamino, exhibition catalog, 2017
- Opening Reception for Zadik Zadikian Project Studio also Featuring Works by Kaloust Guedel and KuBO + Remarks from Peter Frank - Artillery Magazine.
- List of 8 Light And Space Famous Artists Painters.
- Statement of Excessivism.
- Sunday, January 8, 2017 - Celebrate the Art of Zadikian, Kaloust Guedel, and KuBO!.
- Kaloust Guedel's Excessivism and Trump's Rise to Power. 26 June 2016.
- Widewalls.
- Նոր Ուղղութիւն Արուեստում՝ Պարտադրում Է Ժամանակակից Մարդը. 14 January 2016.
- Abstre Sanat Akımı, Soyut Resim, Abstract. 12 November 2016.
- The Newest Art Movement You've Never Heard Of. www.gallereo.com.
- New Art Movement, Excessivism, is a Commentary on Economic Materialism. March 2025.
- Excessivism is Best Kept Secret in the Art World | FinancialContent Business Page. markets.financialcontent.com.
- Downtown News, Excessivism Manifesto, September 28, 2015, page 10
- Excessivism: Irony, Imbalance and a New Rococo. HuffPost. 23 September 2015.
- Effetto Arte, July/August, 2015
- Bare Hill Publishing, The State of Art – Installation & Site Specific #2 | Bare Hill Publishing Installation & Site Specific #2, 2015, Hardcover :
- Asbarez, Ani Tadevosyan, May 15, 2015
- Artweek LA May 13, 2015 Artweek LA May 11, 2015
- Reuters.
- "Excess the New Norm" Գալուստ Գեոդելի Նկարչական Գործերի Անհատական Ցուցահանդէսը – Asbarez – Armenian. 29 October 2014.
- Bienal Internacional De Curitiba 2013 (Exhibition Catalogue), 2013
- Գալուստ Գէօդելի Նկարը Լոնտոնի "Սաաթչի" Ցուցասրահում. 15 August 2013.
- Saatchi Gallery in London to Display Work of Kaloust Guedel. 24 May 2013.
- Yerevan Magazine, Nare Garibyan, September/October, 2012
- Eyes On: Abstracts by Blaze Hill Press, page 53
- Armenian Observer, Ruben Amirian, Jan. 11, 2012
- International Dictionary of Artists by World Wide Art Books, 2011
- Exposition "L'inhumanité de l'homme envers l'homme : voyage au bout de la nuit" / Exhibition : "Man's Inhumanity to Man : Journey Out of Darkness".
- New American Paintings, 15th Anniversary edition by Open Studios Press, 2009, cover
- Anniversary of Armenian Genocide remembered by artists. Los Angeles Daily News. 22 April 2009.
- Man's Inhumanity to Men: Journey Out of Darkness ... (Exhibition Catalogue), 2009
- Afisha, Larisa Pilinsky, Nov. - Dec. 2008
- Masters of Today by MOT, 2008
- Trends by MOT, 2008
- GIAF (Exhibition Catalogue), 2008
- BIAF (Exhibition Catalogue), 2008
- The Armenian Mirror-Spectator, March 1, 2008
- The Armenian Reporter, March 1, 2008
- Glendale News-Press, Art:the remix - Four artists will display works in New Mixed Media show at Brand Library and Art Galleries, By Joyce Rudolph Oct. 07, 2006 Brand library art galleries glendalenewspress.com 2006
- Peter Frank, "Pick of the Week: New Mixed Media," LA Weekly, 2006
- Panorama, May 28, 2004
- Texas National, Stephen F. Austin State University (Exhibition Catalogue), 2003
- From Ararat To America- Contemporary Armenian Artists /Forest Lawn Museum (Exh. Catalogue), 2003
- Voice of America (Radio Interview in Armenian), July 7, 2003
- News-Press, April 29, 2003
- Los Angeles Independent, April 23, 2003
- The Artists Blue Book by Dunbier, Lonnie Pierson, 2003
- Arts & Entertainment, April 23, 2003
- 17th Annual Greater Midwest International, Central Missouri State University (Exhibition Catalogue), 2002
- The Artists Blue Book by Ask Art, 2001
- New American Paintings by Open Studios Press, December 2000
- Gallery Guide, March 1991
- Artspace, summer 1991
- Artscene, December 1990
- 50th National Midyear Exhibition, The Butler Institute of American Art (Exhibition Catalogue), 1986
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
People, houses and institutions
Knowledge graph
People, houses and institutions
Teachers, collaborators, publishers and institutions recorded against this person, each on a stated basis.
Born at
1- CyprusPlace
Established from a fact already recorded on a verified source.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 25 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Paintings
19,456 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Kalamandalam BindhulekhaArtist
- Kalidas KarmakarArtist
- Kaljo PõlluArtist
- Kalle LøchenArtist
- Kaltume Bulama GanaArtist
- Kamal al-LabwaniArtist
- Kamal AminArtist
- Kamāl ud-Dīn BehzādArtist
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own a work by Kaloust Guedel?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.