Hagop Belian
Hagop Belian / Made of Hagop was born in Damascus, Syria, and is of Armenian descent. He moved to Los Angeles in his early teens, initially with the aspiration of becoming a doctor and pursuing the immigrant dream. However, during his senior year at UC Santa Cruz, while writing his thesis on "Robot Motion Planning," Hagop had a transformative experience: a lucid dream in which he found himself creating large-scale abstract paintings by throwing buckets of paint, each gesture filled with emotion. The sensation was profound and unlike anything he had experienced before, sparking a shift in his path. After earning his BA in Mathematics, Hagop decided to follow the calling he had felt in the dream and turned to painting.
Hagop’s life has been unconventional, always guided by his own rhythm. He spent nearly two decades living in Venice Beach with his wife, Sky, before embarking on a six-and-a-half-year nomadic journey that took them around the world. This time of travel was pivotal in Hagop’s growth, both as an artist and as a person. Immersing himself in diverse cultures, he was inspired by each place he visited, often leaving behind a mural or piece of art as a token of gratitude.
Initially, Hagop’s art was rooted in black-and-white forms, and for many years, he showcased his wheat-paste murals on the prominent exterior wall of Gjelina Restaurant on Abbot Kinney in Venice Beach. His murals can be found throughout Los Angeles, as well as in New Mexico, India, Mexico, and Peru.
In 2020, Hagop began exploring color, unlocking a new dimension of expression that led him to experiment with mediums like embroidery and gold/silver leafing. These innovations have allowed him to communicate in a richer, more nuanced language.
After returning to Los Angeles in 2024 for a brief period, Hagop is once again embracing a nomadic lifestyle, continuing his artistic journey with fresh perspectives and new creative explorations.
Website: https://www.madeofhagop.com/
Social Media: @madeofhagop
Fundraising for: Pasadena Humane Society, California Fire Foundation, Baby2Baby
