Born in Bandar-e Anzali city in Iran, Ayvazyan moved to Tehran in the early age and studied archaeology at the Faculty of Fine Arts of Tehran University. He continued his education in Paris, at the Sorbonne where he completed a PhD in Middle-Eastern studies in 1985. (1)

In tandem with his academic practice, Simon Ayvazyan has been engaged in painting and photography and has exhibited his works since 1979 in numerous exhibitions help in Iran, France, Armenia and elsewhere.

As a photographer, Ayvazyan has primarily focused on the photography of historical-architectural monuments. He has especially been interesed in documenting the heritage of Armenian architecture in Iran, as well as the everyday life of Persian-Armenian communities. Today, his documentary series from the 1970s and 80s, depicting the old districts of New Julfa in Isfahan are of particular archival significance. Ayvazyan is also an outstanding guitarist and currently teaches architectural history at the Tehran University's architectural school.

1) http://caroun.com/Photography/Photographers/Iran/SimonAyvazian/SimonAyvazian.html (accessed 20.07.2017)

Vigen Galstyan, 2016