Canadian and Armenian artist Charles Garo Tatossian, was born in Alexandria, Egypt in 1925. Considered a prodigy at the age of ten years, Garo was invited to the Palace in Egypt to execute the portrait of King Farouk. He went on to perfect his artistic talent at the Ecole Des Beaux Arts in Paris. In 1960, Garo immigrated to Canada and started his own television series, "Le Plaisir de Peindre," from 1980 to 1999. Garo taught painting to thousands of art lovers and amateurs both at McGill and Concordia University Continuing Education Centers as well as numerous community centres throughout the Greater Montreal and Quebec Region. He and his family opened gallery in Montreal for 30 years, on Sainte-Catherine street.
Garo comes from a long lineage of fine artists. His father, Armand Tatossian Senior, was himself an artist and curator of the Museum of Alexandria. His uncle Yeghiche Tatossian, an Armenian landscape painter, traveled to Paris to study Post-Impressionism. Two of Garo’s four children followed in the family tradition. His daughter Rose, a commercial artist, took over her father’s shop and gives paintings lessons. Garo’s son, the late Armand Tatossian, was also a renowned artist of unparalleled talent and artistic vision, who had the honor of being the youngest member ever accepted into the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (R.C.A).
Garo is distinguished for his portraits and commissioned work. He is known for having painted the portraits of Josephine Baker, King Faruk of Egypt and other celebrities of his time. Garo’s Murals and Frescos can be found in a multitude of Churches both in Alexandria, Egypt and throughout Quebec. Additionally, Garo generously donated his artwork to innumerable charitable organisations in order to help those in need.
Charles Garo Tatossian passed away on December 22nd, 2016 leaving a legacy for all of us to enjoy.
