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At Gallery 1832, we strive to foster the kind of cross-pollination across worlds that makes this work so deeply meaningful.  My aim as curator has always been to create a space where artists and scientists, culture-shapers and changemakers, community members and curious minds can come together—not just to observe, but to connect. In doing so, we're not only sharing stories—we're sowing seeds for change, cultivating empathy, understanding, and imagination that can ripple far beyond the gallery walls.

The recent opening reception for What Happens After by Masha Keryan was a beautiful embodiment of that vision. The audience itself was a living mosaic—folks from the greater biotech hub, artists, art lovers, supporters, and those who simply walked through our doors seeking something meaningful. And they found it. The energy in the room was a testament to what makes Gallery 1832 special—its ability to act as a bridge between disciplines, cultures, and lived experiences.

Masha described her exhibit as "an experience, not a show." And she's right. Walking through the gallery, you're invited into a visceral journey through Armenian history and resilience, a journey captured in thirty vivid oil paintings inspired by medieval illuminations. But these works are more than just beautiful—they are a meditation on displacement, cultural preservation, and the relentless desire to rebuild.

As the child of immigrants, her art stirred something personal in me. I was brought back to the stories my father would tell—stories of starting over, of holding onto identity in unfamiliar lands, of cooking traditional meals not just to feed the family, but to remember. His legacy is one of resilience, purpose, selflessness, and above all, community even during the most challenging of times. It's a legacy I see reflected in Masha's canvases.

Her art asks: What happens after? After you leave your homeland, after you begin again? The answer is complex and emotional: a new landscape, a new home, a new sense of belonging. A table once again filled with food and laughter, with new friends learning old recipes and carrying forward cultural rituals. What happens after is a recommitment to purpose—and a quiet, powerful resistance against erasure.

As we celebrate Armenian resilience this month, I feel especially grateful to do this work in a place like LabCentral, where the intersections of science, innovation, and culture are not only welcomed, but supported. It's in that spirit that Gallery 1832 continues to be a platform for stories that matter.

Thank you to all who joined us, and to those who return again and again in search of inspiration. Masha's exhibition is more than a celebration—it's a reminder: that beginnings are often disguised as endings, and that through art, we can keep the village, the culture, and the community alive—wherever we are. Her work invites us to honor the past while making space for what's to come. It calls on us to carry forward stories that may otherwise fade, and to find strength in the act of remembering. 

Want to learn more then check out Masha Keryan's page here and follow her on social media to stay connected:
📸 Instagram
🔗 LinkedIn