New Armenian Genocide memorial being built in California

In the first quarter of 2028, the Armenian community of the US will hold an important historic and cultural event. In the city of Irvine, California, the grand opening is planned for the first public memorial in Orange County dedicated to the victims of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey.

The large-scale project, initiated by the local community, will become an integral part of Heart of the Park, the central zone of Irvine Great Park, rightly considered one of the largest public parks in the region.

At the conceptual center of the memorial will be an 11-foot (about 3.35-meter) bronze sculpture of an Armenian mother tenderly holding a child to her. This image conveys a deep philosophical message: it embodies not only the tragedy of the past, but also the incredible resilience, generational continuity and physical survival of the Armenian nation.

Flying cranes will be depicted around the bronze figures. In Armenian cultural symbolism, this bird has historically represented longing for a lost homeland, eternal memory and an unrelenting yearning for peace. The composition will be completed by a forget-me-not flower, the internationally recognized symbol of remembrance for victims of the Armenian Genocide, adopted for the centennial anniversary of the tragedy in 2015.

The monument will stand on a four-foot pedestal, on which will be inscribed: “Armenian Genocide April 24, 1915.” Special attention has been given to the base of the memorial: a circular platform about 20 feet in diameter is planned around the pedestal. It will be paved with an artistic mosaic of high-strength glass and ceramic tile. According to the creators’ vision, this mosaic “carpet” will serve as a direct nod to the rich traditions of Armenian decorative and applied art.

The concept was created by Brittany Ryan, a well-known American sculptor whose studio is based in Laguna Beach, California.
Ahead of the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, a public presentation of a 12-inch model by the artist was held at the Armenian Center of Orange County in Santa Ana. During the event, Brittany Ryan presented not only a miniature copy of the sculpture but also detailed computer renderings showing how the monument will fit into the Heart of the Park landscape.

The project is funded exclusively through private donations.

As of now, the current goal listed on the official fundraising page is $900,000.