Sirak Melkonian (b. 1931, Fardoun, Iran) studied painting with Marcos Grigorian and is widely considered a pioneer in the movement of Iranian Modern Art. 

Limited color palettes and the emphasis on line and form in Sirak Melkonian’s works have always been more important than the subject. The figurative language of his works has found an expressionist and then abstract side over time. Melkonian’s mastery of visual qualities of line and color has created a perfect cohesion and balance that may be considered the closest common feature of his works with pristine nature.

Melkonian gained national recognition in 1957, winning a prize at the Contemporary Iranian Artist Exhibition of the Iran American Society. This was followed by the Imperial Court Prize at the Tehran Biennale in 1958. He participated in the Venice Biennale (1958) and won the Paris Biennale prize (1959). In the years before the 1979 revolution, he was awarded the first prize at Tehran International Art Fair. He has exhibited his work in over 140 exhibitions worldwide, including Grand Palais and the Salon De Montrouge in Paris. His works are part of major public and private international collections such as the Niavaran Palace, TMoCA, and LACMA.