Vahé Fattal understood the meaning of innovation in the arts like few others. A devoted supporter of Armenian culture, he dedicated his life to uplifting artists – and becoming one. That’s why the partnership between the Vahé Fattal Fund and Creative Armenia felt so natural. With the support of L’Œuvre d’Orient, we launched the Creative Innovation Fellowship, a program offering artists on the cutting edge the funding, mentorship, and workshops they need to push and break boundaries.
Born in Aleppo in 1942, Vahé Fattal’s artistic talent led him to study fine arts at École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Later, he founded a successful full-service design and advertising agency in Los Angeles, servicing high-profile clients in the entertainment and corporate industries, which included working with ABC Television as their exclusive ad agency for 18 years and partnerships with “big 5” Hollywood movie studios, National Geographic, Nissan, and UCLA Extension.
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Besides being a renowned artist, designer, and creative visionary, Vahé Fattal’s creative soul always remained deeply rooted in Armenian identity. He has made an immense contribution to the identity of many Armenian movements and campaigns. When the Karabakh movement was at its height, he designed the famous Artsakh/Karabakh symbol and posters, and later its flag (1998). Then he became one of the founders of the Golden Apricot International Film Festival and shaped its visual identity. He also crafted the impactful “Make It Happen” advertising campaign for the Armenia Fund telethon and served as art director of the Armenian International Magazine. Until his last days, together with his partner and soulmate Lucie, he shared a devotion to art, education, travel, and Armenian culture.
While the Creative Innovation Fellowship is our most ambitious collaboration with Vahé Fattal, it actually isn’t the first. When in 2019 we launched a poster design competition, Vahé Fattal served as a jury member. Then, in a surprise move, he contributed a poster of his own. To this day, we proudly keep this image – and now share it with you – as an enduring memento from a man who continued to inspire us.
Vahé Fattal’s artistic journey was more than design; it was a life woven into Armenian cultural resilience. From Parisian studios to the heart of the diaspora, from the Silver Screen to national identities, he left a legacy that continues to shape creative narratives today. Through the Creative Innovation Fellowship, that legacy continues, encouraging artists to transform ideas into reality and honoring a man whose vision continues to awaken imagination in Armenia and beyond.