Instagram story viewer> @hragv> Posts

Hrag Vartanian

@hragv

25.4K

followers

4375

following

🍭Art Critic Futurist 🧪 Curator, Artist, Journalist 🧿 Editor-at-large/Co-founder @hyperallergic 📰 Aleppo born, Toronto raised, Brooklyn based w/ @veken

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Hrag Vartanian, editor-in-chief and co-founder of Hyperallergic, is one of two recipients of this year’s Susan C. Larsen Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rabkin Foundation. Recognized as an arts writer who has “had a generational impact on the field,” Vartanian and fellow recipient, feminist critic and curator Lucy Lippard, have each been presented with an unrestricted $50,000 cash prize.

The foundation, which began awarding prizes to visual arts writers in 2017, described Vartanian and Lippard as “two pathfinding writers who have shaped how we think about art and its social and political contexts.”

Read more on Hyperallergic at the link in bio.
.
.
.

1 - Hrag Vartanian, editor-in-chief and co-founder of Hyperallergic (photo by Kevin J. Miyazaki, courtesy the Rabkin Foundation)

2 - Hrag Vartanian in his Brooklyn studio. (photo by Kevin J. Miyazaki, courtesy the Rabkin Foundation)

#RabkinFoundation #HragVartanian #LucyLippard #ArtJournalism by @hragv

5k

196

2 years ago

Reigning diva Amygdala brings Brooklyn drag to Manhattan in “Pleasure Dome: Continuum” at SoMad — a fête of therapeutic sound, vaudeville tributes, and queer politics.

Editor-at-Large Hrag Vartanian was in attendance to capture what he calls a “commie corridor-inflected, sensorial extravaganza.”

Read the full review at hyperallergic.com.
.
.
.
Video and photos courtesy Hrag Vartanian, Hyperallergic by @hragv

300

11

8 days ago

I’m moderating a conversation at the @bklynlibrary centered on exhibiting artist and author Christopher Myers @kalyban and fellow advocates for freedom of expression (Peabody Award-winning Director/Producer of The Librarians, Kim A. Snyder; Namrata Tripathi, President and Publisher of Kokila Books; and, comedian, actress, writer, and disability advocate Maysoon Zayid). Join us! And check out Christopher’s Unbound exhibition which is currently on view at Central Library through January 15, 2027. by @hragv

167

9

11 days ago

How have novels helped promote Zionist myths about Israel’s creation? Prof. Aaron Kreuter (Trent University) breaks down how Leon Uris’s Exodus used racialized depictions of Palestinians, narratives of Jewish victimhood, and arguments against Palestinian refugee return to justify an ethnically exclusive state. Comments promoting violence or vulgarity will be deleted.

For book recs that dismantle Zionism and forge justice for Palestine see the list below:

Men in the Sun, Ghassan Kanafani

Minor Detail, Adania Shibli

Enter Ghost, Isabella Hammad

The Jewish War, Tova Reich

Operation Shylock, Philip Roth

Unholy Land, Lavie Tidhar

Salt Houses, Halas Alyan

You Exist Too Much, Zeina Arafat

The Woman From Tantoura, Radwa Ashour

Book of Disappearances, Ibtisam Azem

I Saw Ramallah, Mourid Barghouti

The Last Earth, Ramzy Baroud

To read more on this, please see the essays by Prof. Kreuter on our LinkTree, in bio

#AMA #AcademicsforPeace #reels #fyp #explainervideo #explainer #History #peace by @hragv

385

37

11 days ago

𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗿𝗮𝗴 𝗩𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗻 at 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁’𝘀 𝟮𝟯𝗿𝗱 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁 this 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟵𝘁𝗵! ✨

Hrag Vartanian (he/they) is an art critic, curator, artist, editor, and podcaster. He co-founded Hyperallergic, an independent art publication, in 2009 with his spouse, Veken Gueyikian.

Under Vartanian’s leadership as editor-in-chief (2009–2025), Hyperallergic grew to reach millions of readers per year and is credited with revitalizing arts journalism as audiences moved online.

Vartanian has been a visiting artist and critic at the Brooklyn College, Indiana University, New Mexico State University, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Pratt Institute, Rhode Island School of Design, University of California–Davis, UNLV, Vanderbilt University, and other institutions. He was a Poynter Fellow at Yale University in 2024. He served as a lead mentor at the Chautauqua School of Art from 2019–2022.

In 2023, he was awarded the Susan C. Larsen Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rabkin Foundation for Visual Arts Writing.

𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗴𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗿𝗮𝗴 𝗩𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗻, whose commitment to independent arts journalism has shaped how we engage with art, and whose values align with ArteEast’s mission!

🎟 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗶𝗼 for more details and to reserve your tickets! Limited Early Bird tickets are going fast!

Photo Credit: Hrag Vartanian by Maya Shanlikian (@maya_shanlikian) by @hragv

242

33

13 days ago

Join us on 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟵𝘁𝗵 to celebrate ArteEast’s 23rd year of presenting and amplifying creative voices from the SWANA region and diasporas, with special guest 𝗠𝗖 𝗔𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗳 𝗡𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗶 (@afeefness), while raising our glasses to toast to this year’s incredibly inspiring honorees 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗮 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗶 (@monachalabi) and 𝗛𝗿𝗮𝗴 𝗩𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗻 (@hragv).

We are also very excited to feature special performances by visual artist/musician 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘆𝗮𝗺 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘆 (@maryamturkey) and drag sensation 𝗠𝗲𝗵𝗺𝗼𝗼𝗻𝗶 (@mehmooni.nyc), with 𝗕𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗵 (@_babagamoush_) closing out the night as our dance party DJ.

Limited discounted ‘Early Bird’ tickets are available now–going quickly! Link in bio for more info.

Special thanks go out to our evening’s supporters: venue friends 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗼𝗼𝗻 (@funoon.us) ; our generous food and drink sponsor family 𝗔𝘆𝗮𝘁 (@ayat.nyc), 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗲𝗿 (@backhomebeer), 𝗕𝗶𝗯𝗶 𝗕𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘆 (@bibibakerynyc) , 𝗜𝘅𝘀𝗶𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗲 (@ixsirwine), 𝗣𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗻𝘁 (@pheasantnyc), 𝗧𝗶𝗽 𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 (@tiptoppropercocktails), and 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗔𝗿𝗰 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺 (@wildarcfarm); and this year’s media sponsor 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗮 (@menna.nyc)

To get a glimpse of what’s in store, we are sharing highlights from the 2024 and 2025 Annual benefits.

Photo Credits: Mona Chalabi by Eva Vermandel (@evavermandel); Hrag Vartanian by Maya Shanlikian (@maya_shanlikian) by @hragv

230

17

18 days ago

Signs from today’s UN protests by @hragv

236

5

22 days ago

From yesterday in front of the Museum of Modern Art featuring @timeandmemoryproject. @anna_lee_999 has the story on @hyperallergic https://hyperallergic.com/duo-calls-to-oust-leon-black-in-protest-outside-moma/ (my photo) taken in MoMA The Museum of Modern Art by @hragv

2k

24

23 days ago

The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention stands with artists who speak out against genocide.

When venues and sponsors silence those speaking out against genocide, they help sustain that very genocide.

The larger issue, of course, goes well beyond Ed Sheeran and Robert Kraft using large venues to silence those who speak out against genocide. A dangerous argument has emerged that naming genocide and standing against it is primarily a political act, when in fact it is now and always has been a moral imperative.

We urge Ed Sheeran to speak out against genocide and to use his immense power to push back against genocide supporters and genocide deniers seeking to silence our humanity.

Silence is complicity. by @hragv

6k

270

a month ago

𝗦𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁’𝘀 𝟮𝟯𝗿𝗱 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟵!
𝗟𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄!

For 23 years, ArteEast has created vital spaces for artists and filmmakers from Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA) and their diasporas—supporting their work, amplifying underrepresented voices, and bringing our communities together through art, film, performance, and storytelling.

Join us on November 9th to celebrate this milestone with a night of music, mezze, open bar, toasts, performances, dancing and more! Stay tuned for additional details coming soon.

This year, we are thrilled to honor two extraordinary voices who have left an undeniable positive impact on our community:

𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗮 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗶 — writer, illustrator, and producer
𝗛𝗿𝗮𝗴 𝗩𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗻 — critic, writer, curator, artist, editor-at-large, and co-founder of Hyperallergic

𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟵, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 | 𝟲–𝟭𝟬 𝗣𝗠
𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗼𝗼𝗻 | 𝟭𝟬𝟬 𝗦𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘁, 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗹𝘆𝗻, 𝗡𝗬

Go to the 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗶𝗼 for more info and to get your *ticket!

Special thanks to this year’s Media Sponsor @menna.nyc and to our supporting sponsor family @ayat.nyc , @backhomebeer , @bibibakerynyc , and @ixsirwine
—-------------
*Proceeds from the benefit help sustain ArteEast’s programs, keeping them accessible, while supporting artists and filmmakers from the region.

Can’t join us in person? Please consider making a donation and sharing the event with your community. Every contribution makes a difference. by @hragv

170

10

a month ago

Is Gaza’s healthcare system being pushed toward total collapse? Israeli pediatrician Michal Feldon explains how fuel shortages, destroyed medical infrastructure, and vanishing supplies are putting hospitals, newborns, cancer patients, and other vulnerable Palestinians at grave risk. Comments promoting violence or vulgarity will be deleted.

#AMA #AcademicsforPeace #reels #fyp #explainervideo #explainer #History #peace by @hragv

2k

88

2 months ago

Editor-at-Large Hrag Vartanian (@hragv) visited Mohawk artist Alan Michelson’s new installation on Governor’s Island “The Oyster,” which responds to the nation’s 250th anniversary through Indigenous perspectives and environmental histories.

Developed in partnership with Billion Oyster Project (@billionoyster) and commissioned by More Art (@moreartnyc), the oyster-shaped sculpture is comprised of hundreds of the mollusks’ shells, recalling Indigenous midden practices. It also serves as an amphitheater for performances, making space for community and learning.

“The future is what will lead us to ecological restoration,” said Kendall Greene, the Curatorial Fellow at More Art. “That’s essentially the heart of the project and the purpose of the partnership with Billion Oyster Project, because the installation is eventually going to be returned to the waters to support rebuilding an oyster reef.”

The show, which is on view until the end of November, invites visitors to “reflect on the interwoven histories of extraction, trade, stewardship, displacement, and environmental change embedded in New York Harbor.”

Read the full review at hyperallergic.com. by @hragv

1k

22

2 months ago