Born in Alexandropol (now Gyumri). In 1938 he graduated from the Yerevan Teachers' Institute, and in 1942 from the Faculty of Art History of the Repin Institute in Leningrad. In 1943-54 he worked at the State Picture Gallery of Armenia, from 1951 as director of the gallery; in 1945-51 at the Yerevan Fine Arts Institute; in 1955-61 at the journal “Sovetakan arvest” (Soviet Art); and from 1960 at the Yerevan Fine Arts and Theatre Institute (professor in 1987). He is the author of the lyrics of a number of well-known and beloved songs. In 1985 he was awarded the title of Honored Art Worker of the Armenian SSR. He died in Yerevan.
