directors
Operations Director
Operations Director
Operations Director
Ms. Mari's interest in art began at a very young age. At age 11, Mari used art as an outlet. She began sketching and later expanded her mediums to include charcoal, ink, and acrylic. Her high school art teacher, Mr. Phan, was highly influential in her journey as an artist. His work was unique to his character and Mari was inspired to deve
Ms. Mari's interest in art began at a very young age. At age 11, Mari used art as an outlet. She began sketching and later expanded her mediums to include charcoal, ink, and acrylic. Her high school art teacher, Mr. Phan, was highly influential in her journey as an artist. His work was unique to his character and Mari was inspired to develop a style that was unique and reflective of her personality. In 2013, Mari won first place in the Armenian Allied Association Contest. She a painted a nude woman on a red horse illustrating her vulnerability as well as her strength. She continues to create new personal works while teaching at Modest Fly Art. She has used her passion to inspire the students she teaches and hopes to show them that art is not just a hobby, but a great source of comfort. Recently, tattoo artistry has been a source of inspiration for her. She continues to view art as a form of therapy and looks forward to working with MFA in bringing that comfort to others.
"Art is the highest form of emotional release and escape. " - Mari
Executive Director
Operations Director
Operations Director
“I feel as though I have found my calling in the wake of what I have wanted this business to become. I hope to make it as tranquil for others as it has been for me to depend on my creative expression in staying happy in life. I wish to touch the lives of others that are in need of finding comfort when they are hopeless in their state or c
“I feel as though I have found my calling in the wake of what I have wanted this business to become. I hope to make it as tranquil for others as it has been for me to depend on my creative expression in staying happy in life. I wish to touch the lives of others that are in need of finding comfort when they are hopeless in their state or circumstance. The idea of running a company and leading people was never in my mind for financial gain. It was always for the expression of creativity and for the love of art. It was what felt right from the beginning and as I follow this route each day, I learn more and more alongside the people I work with and these such experiences that I gain most of my knowledge from and apply my passion towards. Today, I am so grateful and naturally inspired for the work that I do. I am one lucky girl!” - Iren (Eerren) Tsaturyan
Having graduated from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena in 2008, Eerren’s first instinct was to a have space to work and begin working as a freelance illustrator. She used the 200 square foot personal art space for a few months before she had the grand opening of Modest Fly Art in 2009. She had decided to use her small space as a boutique art gallery, showcasing other artists just starting out in her community. As she began meeting new artists, she was excited for each show she was curating for her monthly openings. After a few years of running the gallery, she expanded the studio space to an even bigger gallery at an additional 700 square feet of space.
With more openings and shows, she, then, decided to start teaching art. As she began teaching to only a couple of students at a time, while still running the gallery, she increased her student list and began growing at a normal pace, through referrals. Today, she has a 1200 square foot studio space on Commerce Avenue in Tujunga, California and, with the help of her staff, they are offering art lessons to 100 plus students. As they transition into a non-profit, Eerren has many goals and dreams for the studio to keep growing and be able to reach people all around the world. She dreams of reaching those that need a bit of creativity in their life and do not have necessities due to a variety of life situations and circumstances.
"There's no greater gift than thinking that you had some impact on the world, for the better." - Gloria Steinem
Creative Director
Operations Director
Creative Director
“My art takes a critical view on social and cultural issues. Inspired by vibrant hues and exotic textures, my abstract figurative forms depict human nature and the nature of women. I focus on the
differences between Eastern and Western cultures, and I challenge the boundaries between tradition and modernity. I believe that my role as a t
“My art takes a critical view on social and cultural issues. Inspired by vibrant hues and exotic textures, my abstract figurative forms depict human nature and the nature of women. I focus on the
differences between Eastern and Western cultures, and I challenge the boundaries between tradition and modernity. I believe that my role as a teacher at Modest Fly Art Studio Gallery is to help spread my artistic knowledge and pave a way for our students to come into their own and create what is unique to them and only them.”
- Lilia Davoodian
Lilia is an Armenian artist born in Tehran, Iran. After graduating with a Bachelors degree in Art from an Art Academy in Iran, Lilia moved to Armenia to continue her education. She studied with some of the best professors at the Academy of Fine Art in Yerevan, Armenia. There she found her unique voice, while receiving an MA in illustration. Upon receiving her Masters, she moved back to Iran where she began working as a Senior Illustrator. She illustrated children’s books for Nardeban Books, a publishing company in Tehran. At the same time, she was working as an interior designer for Different Designs, another company based in Tehran. With one hat, Lili juggled the world of children and, with the other, she worked on redesigning cafes and shopping centers for clients. Always wanting to experience and learn new things, she moved to the United States. She, now, resides and works in California.
"If I could say it in words there would be no reason to paint." - Edward Hopper
Art Instruction leaders
Alisa Barsegyan
Collette Vartanians
Collette Vartanians
"Modest Fly Art has become by home because Eerren has made it so. As educators, we work to pass our passion for art onto each and every student that walks through our doors. We strive for excellence with what we teach and hope that our students benefit from our efforts. We work to guide our students to pursue beauty and truth through exceptional artistry by engraving fundamental skills and creative thinking in them. As practicing professionals, we have an avid motivation to explore and innovate in our respective artistic fields, and are dedicated to preparing our students to excel as talented artists. Being a primary educator at Modest Fly Art, I work to bring my experience as a professional artist and knowledge from my academic background to the table...even with the youngest of art students.
I believe our mission as educators at Modest Fly Art is to help model creative thinking, but to do so by teaching that fundamental knowledge as the most important pillar. We hope to be one, huge stepping stone in our students's artistic path to successful careers."
- Alisa Barsegyan
Alisa and Eerren met in high school where they connected because of their passion for art. They both went to a private art school on their off time. Alisa remembers bonding over their art practice in their high school ceramics studio, making sculptures, laughing and building what they found out later to be a lifelong friendship.
After graduation, they both moved on to continue their studies in the field of art. Alisa's journey first placed her at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) where she received a BA in Fine Art with an emphasis in drawing and painting. From there, she found her way to Azusa Pacific University, where she focused deeper into the study of art and honed in on her drawing and painting skills, as as Theory and Criticism.
Upon graduating with her MFA, she presented a solo exhibition titled "Seeds of a Pomegranate" and a thesis titled "Localizing and Experience: who is this "we?" Once MFA in hand, Alisa was extended a position as an adjunct professor for the department of Art and Design at APU, which started her path as an educator. Ten years later, Alisa and Eerren reconnected and she was offered a position to teach at Modest Fly Art Studio Gallery and that is when this new journey began for her.
"Art teaches nothing, except the significance of life." - Henry Miller
Collette Vartanians
Collette Vartanians
Collette Vartanians
Ms. Collette began working at Modest Fly Art a couple of years ago. She has jumped into our little haven of art and creativity and has fit in like a perfect piece to the puzzle. With training added to her skills as an artist, she is able to instruct fundamental teachings and keep the organization and flow of the studio moving ahead. We are so grateful to have Ms. Collette on our team and expect greatness from her as she has been already delivering.
"My creative energy was sparked when I was gifted an old set of Prismacolor pencils as a 6 year old. The pencils were short and worn down because they had been used, but they, somehow, made me feel like a real artist... so I began drawing and continued to draw with those pencils until they were extremely worn out. Today, I have my own set of pencils and am always eager to create." - Collette
Larisa Agajanian
Collette Vartanians
Larisa Agajanian
Larisa moved to the epicenter of Los Angeles at the age of three and grew up in the world of art and her love of painting was cultivated during her childhood years. In the third grade, as an eccentric elementary student, she attempted her first landscape painting of "The City of Angels," which she received first place in the school wide art competition. This small youthful feat of accomplishment launched Larisa's career as an aspiring painter. She didn't know it yet, but her journey in art had just begun. In the years to follow, while earning her high school art diploma, she refined her skills as an artist by attending an academy of art for five years. During her school, she built a reputation as an abstract painter, whose passion was capturing the exchange of a dialogue in the form of art. Art had always allowed Larisa to distinguish herself by being able to relay her imagination onto the canvas. She owes her artistic talent to her youthful years in art school and for that she always be grateful. Art class was the highlight of her week as a kid, and is now the highlight of her day as an art instructor at MFA. Similar to her childhood opportunity, Modest Fly allows for artists of all ages to learn and discover their own capabilities beyond the canvas.
"What once was a dream to work all day covered in paint is now a reality thanks to the amazing people that walk in these doors and work alongside me." - Larisa
Art instruction assistants
Maneh Nazaryan
Gabriella Martinez
Maneh Nazaryan
- Ms. Maneh has been drawing for as long as she can remember. She began her art training at age 11 and continued throughout high school and college. Having missed her days as a kid at the art studio, she joined the Modest Fly Art team in 2020 and is continuing to expand her art knowledge as she works with the next generation of young artists.
Sabrina Taylor
Gabriella Martinez
Maneh Nazaryan
- At the age of 10, Sabrina felt drawn to art and has been interested in it to this day. With constant encouragement from friends and family, she has been pursuing it more aggressively and now has dreams of selling her pieces and becoming a successful business woman. Her mediums include digital, oil, watercolor, and even acrylics. Her preferred methods lie heavily with simple pen and pencil portraits.
Gabriella Martinez
Gabriella Martinez
Gabriella Martinez
- Ms. Gabby loved art ever since she was a little and she started going to Modest Fly as a student when she was 8 years old. Her passion for art and ability heightened while a student there. She is currently attending Providence High School and taking her second year of AP art. She is so happy to be back and have an impact on the students, just as Ms. Eerren had on her.
