Alexandra Manukyan is a Beautiful Bizarre Artist Directory member provides some fascinating insights into her practice and experiences as she responds to the questions below:
- What is the high point of your career so far?
- If you could ask any artist, living or dead, a single question who and what would you ask?
- If you didn’t have to worry about social media what would you do differently in your art practice?
- How can artists and galleries work together to educate the public on the importance of hand made art over AI art?
What is the high point of your career so far?
I don’t think there has been one single defining moment, but rather a collection of milestones that have reminded me I am on the right path. Seeing my work featured on the front and back covers of American Art Collector magazine, along with several editorial features about my paintings, was both humbling and deeply encouraging. Having my exhibitions sell out in both 2025 and 2026, has been another incredibly meaningful milestone. But beyond my own work, one of the greatest rewards has been mentoring artists from around the world.
Watching them grow in confidence, develop their own artistic voices, and achieve goals they once thought were beyond their reach has brought me just as much fulfillment as my own professional accomplishments. Those experiences have reminded me that art has the power not only to inspire, but also to transform lives, including the lives of the people who create it.
If you could ask any artist, living or dead, a single question who and what would you ask?
It would probably be Rembrandt. I would ask him: After experiencing so much loss in both your personal life and your career, how did you continue to find the strength and the desire to create such extraordinary work? I’ve always admired not only the brilliance of his paintings, but also the resilience of his spirit. His ability to transform suffering into beauty is something I find deeply inspiring.
If you didn’t have to worry about social media what would you do differently in your art practice?
I already make a conscious effort not to let social media dictate my artistic practice. My priority has always been creating meaningful work rather than creating content. That said, if I didn’t have to think about social media at all, I would devote every bit of that time and mental energy to painting, researching, and developing new ideas. I believe the creative process needs silence, patience, and uninterrupted focus, these are qualities that don’t always align with the constant demand to stay visible online.
While social media has its benefits, I think artists sometimes feel pressured to become content creators first and artists second. I hope we never lose sight of the importance of simply making great art.
How can artists and galleries work together to educate the public on the importance of hand made art over AI art?
Throughout history, every technological revolution has changed the way we create and experience art, as well as other handmade crafts. AI is simply the latest chapter in that ongoing evolution. Yet I believe people will always be drawn to something created by a human mind and human hands, because it carries intention, emotion, and lived experience. These are qualities that cannot be manufactured.
Before becoming a full-time artist, I worked as a fashion designer, and I witnessed a similar shift. The rise of mass-produced clothing didn’t diminish the appreciation for handcrafted garments. If anything, it increased their value because people recognized the skill, individuality, and craftsmanship behind them.
Art has followed a similar path. Before photography, painting often served practical purposes such as portraiture, illustration, and documentation. Once photography took over many of those roles, painting was freed to become something more personal, expressive, and deeply human. Today, original art is valued not simply for what it depicts, but because it represents a unique vision that no machine can genuinely experience.
I believe artists and galleries can best educate the public by inviting people to look beyond the finished image and appreciate the years of study, craftsmanship, imagination, and lived experience behind every handmade work of art. The true value of art has never been in the image alone, it lies in the human story that created it.
Join cutting-edge artists from around the world
The Beautiful Bizarre Artist Directory is a powerful tool for artists looking to grow their visibility, and connect with fellow artists, curators and collectors. To join the Beautiful Bizarre Artist Directory click here for more information.
