Armenian artist Rafael Megall presents his first UK exhibition at central London gallery

Born in Yerevan, Armenia in 1983, Rafael Megall (Melikyan) - www.rafaelmegall.com - started to paint at the age of nine. Since an early age he has exhibited his paintings, both in solo exhibitions and at prestigious international shows, such as (most recently) SOFA-New York 2009, ArtExpo-New York 2009, Florence Biennale 2009 and Toronto Art Expo in 2010. Rafael’s paintings appear in numerous private and public collections, including National Gallery of Armenia and the Vatican.

He is a son of well known doctor (endoscopic surgery) and MP from “Prosperous Armenia” party Armen Melikyan.

Says Celine Gauld-Bruckner of the Gallery 8: “It is an honour to present this first UK exhibition of the fine young Armenian artist Rafael Megall. My first reaction to his wonderfully vibrant paintings was to smile at the warmth and energy they emanate. Evincing a powerful sense of form and colour the paintings are executed with a sureness of touch that is a product of Rafael's relationship with and interpretation of Nature."

I like this quote by Rafael: “Painting will not be born if you do not put fire under your feet.”

He reveres Nature as his greatest teacher - 'I create my Nature, my images, by means of feeling and passing through my inner world'. The artist’s world is far from being fragile however, it is instead rebellious, chaotic and complex. His character is reflected in the palette of his paintings, his every creation a 'self-portrait'. (Galleries magazine)

Exhibition runs 11-17 April 2011, 10am-5pm, Gallery 8 (8 Duke Street, St James’s, London SW1Y 6BN www.8dukestreet.co.uk)