Whale breaching from blue ocean in desert landscape, sandy dunes, light brown sky.

David Ambarzumjan’s Surreal Brushstrokes Reveal Hidden Worlds

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Written by Seth Sebastian

2026-07-25

David Ambarzumjan’s “Brushstrokes in Time” series presents a mesmerizing interplay of scenes. Take a moment and you’re standing on a rain-slicked city street or gazing at a desert under a fading sun. But then, with a bold stroke of oil paint, the familiar view fractures.

Through this painted rupture, a new era emerges—an era alive with different textures and hues. This transformation is not just a visual delight but a profound inquiry into the connective tissues of time and change.

Ambarzumjan excels at melding the concrete with the fantastical. By doing so, he raises compelling questions about the intersections of human influence and nature’s timeless evolution. The brushstroke becomes both a physical mark and a metaphoric bridge to the past.

For more on blending reality and imagination, check out Michele Volpi’s surreal tattoos inspired by vintage science imagery.

Large wave crashes over decaying cityscape, vegetation, rusted car in foreground.
A surreal scene depicting a large wave crashing over a decaying city landscape, blending elements of nature with urban decay. The foreground features overgrown vegetation and a rusted car, while a modern building stands in the background under a moody sky.

His work captures the duality of being both real and surreal, challenging what we document and what we imagine. It’s a dance that photography alone cannot perform—only an artist’s brush can bridge such divides.

If you enjoy surreal art, explore Yoshitoshi Kanemaki’s figurative sculptures that defy conventional form and perspective.

Building dome transitions into underwater scene with fish and underwater statue.
A surreal image featuring a building’s ornate dome and architecture blending into an underwater scene with fish and a statue, creating a juxtaposition of land and sea.

To explore more of his captivating pieces, visit david-ambarzumjan.com or follow him on Instagram.

Underwater view of street, lamp post, coral, and fish swimming above path.
A surreal scene depicting an underwater view of a street with a lamp post and coral, covered by a large wave, revealing fish swimming above a cobblestone path.

Images © Copyright David Ambarzumjan.

Fox atop pile of tires overlooks city skyline contrasting nature and urbanism.
A fox stands atop a pile of tires overlooking a city skyline, with a contrast between nature and urbanism represented in the background.
City split by waterfall reveals lush meadow with deer, rainy bustling city.
A surreal urban scene depicting a city split by a waterfall, revealing a lush green meadow with deer in the foreground, contrasting with the rainy, bustling city in the background.
Waterfall divides meadow with poppies from stormy sea with lone figure.
A surreal landscape divided by a cascading waterfall, featuring a vibrant poppy-filled meadow on one side and a dark, stormy sea with a lone figure in a boat on the other.
Cobblestone path, dog on leash, vibrant wave reveals submerged cityscape with sharks.
A surreal street scene featuring a cobblestone path with a dog on a leash, where a vibrant blue wave merges into the setting, revealing sharks swimming through a submerged cityscape.
Flowing paint brush stroke like wave above cityscape, eagle silhouetted against it.
A surreal artwork depicting a large, flowing paint brush stroke resembling a wave above a cityscape at night, featuring an eagle silhouetted against the brush stroke.
Daytime scene of rolling hills transitions to starry night with jagged mountains.
A split landscape featuring a vibrant daytime scene with rolling hills, grazing sheep, and rocky mountains on the left, transitioning into a dark, starry night scene with jagged mountains and glowing orbs on the right.
Rugged landscape with bare trees transitions to a mystical forest with glowing orbs.
A surreal split-view artwork depicting a rugged landscape on the left with bare trees and antlers, transitioning into a mystical dark forest on the right illuminated by glowing orbs.
Weathered shipwreck on barren land with vibrant wave sweeping above it.
A surreal illustration of a weathered shipwreck resting on a barren landscape, with an oversized, vibrant blue wave sweeping above it, blending elements of land and sea.
Vibrant coral reef with fish juxtaposed against darker ocean floor color blend.
A surreal underwater scene depicting a vibrant coral reef with various fish, juxtaposed against a darker ocean floor, showcasing a creative blend of colors and textures in an artistic style.
City skyline pulled from lush green landscape, contrasting urban and natural backgrounds.
A surreal illustration depicting a city skyline, resembling New York City, appearing to be pulled away from a lush green landscape and water, creating a contrast between urban and natural environments.
Asteroid field transitions to serene rural landscape with winding road and greenery.
A surreal split image depicting an asteroid field on the left and a serene rural landscape on the right, featuring a winding road, greenery, and a caution sign.
Fiery element peels away revealing prehistoric environment with dinosaurs and mountains.
A surreal landscape depicting a dramatic scene with a fiery, textured element that appears to peel away, revealing a prehistoric environment with mountains, dinosaurs, and a colorful sky.
Emperor penguin and chick on icy terrain, orange sky, and distant penguins.
A painting of an emperor penguin and a chick on icy terrain, with a dramatic orange sky and brown mountains in the background. Several other penguins appear in the distance, and the scene suggests an otherworldly or surreal environment.
Split landscape with starry night mountains and serene daytime scene with goat.
A surreal artwork depicting a split landscape, with one side showcasing a dark, starry night with mountains and the other side illustrating a serene daytime scene with a goat and a barn.
Zebra in grass, urban buildings backdrop, cracked wall reveals scenic landscape.
A zebra stands in a grassy area, juxtaposed against a backdrop of urban buildings and a partially cracked wall revealing a scenic landscape with trees and sunlight.

Source: mossandfog.com

Frequently asked questions

What is David Ambarzumjan’s ‘Brushstrokes in Time’ series about?

David Ambarzumjan’s ‘Brushstrokes in Time’ series presents a mesmerizing interplay of scenes that transform familiar views into new eras with a bold stroke of oil paint. This transformation offers a visual delight and explores the themes of time and change.

How does David Ambarzumjan blend reality and imagination in his art?

David Ambarzumjan blends reality and imagination by melding concrete elements with fantastical ones in his paintings. His work challenges the viewer’s perception of what is real versus imagined and uses art to bridge these divides.

Where can I see more of David Ambarzumjan’s art?

To explore more of David Ambarzumjan’s captivating pieces, you can visit his website at david-ambarzumjan.com or follow him on Instagram.