Harvey Vahram Pranian Jr.

On March 30, after many years living with the effects of multiple strokes and advanced dementia, Young Evanston Artists! (YEA!) founder Harvey Vahram Pranian’s spirit took flight. He was 88.

Harvey Jr. was born with tremendous promise, on Nov. 3, 1937, in Detroit, a first-generation Armenian American. His parents, Harvey Sr. and Louise (née Kezlarian), both narrowly escaped the Armenian genocide, each entering the United States through Ellis Island. They later met, married and settled in Detroit, where extended family also lived. Harvey Sr. worked as a tailor, and Louise as a dressmaker.

A spirited child from the start, Harvey was well known as a prankster. As an adult, he delighted in sharing stories of his misadventures and impish escapades. A favorite among his children was the tale of drag racing his Corvette across the frozen lake where he grew up. At Bloomfield Hills (Michigan) High School, Harvey was a three-sport athlete, a letterman, quarterback and captain of the varsity football team; he also competed in tennis, was the class president for two years, president of the student council and a member of the choir.

In 1960, after graduating from Albion College with majors in English, philosophy and political science, Harvey was accepted to Yale Divinity School, where he studied theology with Richard Niebuhr. Harvey spent a year studying in Scotland at the University of Edinburgh. He would fondly recall camping on the shores of Loch Ness, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Loch Ness Monster.

Deeply influenced by his studies and the injustices he witnessed in the early 1960s, Harvey moved to Chicago in 1963 after graduating Yale. For two years he worked with youth gang members (the Disciples and the Blackstone Rangers) at a Black church on the South Side, where he witnessed race riots firsthand.

In 1965, Harvey accepted a position at the Church Federation of Chicago in the department of radio and television, where he produced weekly shows for network stations. It was during this time that he began making jewelry. Some of his work was available to the public at the museum stores at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Museum of Contemporary Art.

While making jewelry was creatively satisfying, it was economically unfeasible. But Harvey was undeterred. He opened a coffee house named ”The Whole” in the basement of St. Bartholomew Church on the city’s South Side. There he met Joseph Yoakum, an artist, and began exhibiting and promoting Yoakum’s art work, which led to national and international recognition for both Yoakum and Harvey.

Harvey began collecting art and objects, often purchasing pieces from street artists, including Lee Godie. His career began to take shape, fueled by his creative instincts and passions.

In 1971, he opened Harvey Antiques, a store on Chicago Avenue in Evanston, which he operated for close to 30 years. Focusing on pre-Victorian, early American furniture, jewelry, folk art and outsider art, the shop became renowned, attracting dealers, architects and designers from across the country. Over the years, as Harvey participated in major furniture and design shows nationwide, he became widely sought after as an expert in his field.

Harvey’s spirit of giving back and his love for the arts came together when his children were students in Evanston’s school districts. (Daughter Katy was a student at Nichols and son Jon was a student at ETHS). Inspired to celebrate student creativity, Harvey approached Katy’s art teacher, Carla Kenny, to discuss a way to collaborate. Over time, their collaboration grew into Young Evanston Artists (YEA!), an annual festival showcasing the visual and performing arts created by Evanston’s youth. Founded in 1987, what began with student artwork displayed on the sidewalk outside Harvey’s store soon expanded, eventually moving to Raymond Park, where it continues today.

In 2012, to honor Harvey, the YEA! Harvey Pranian Legacy Fund for the Arts was created through a major donation to the Evanston Community Foundation (ECF). The Fund provides high school students scholarships for their continued education in the arts.

In 2017 at the 30th anniversary of YEA!, then-Mayor Steven Hagerty presented Harvey with a proclamation in recognition of his impact. By that time, more than 30,000 Evanston students had benefited from Harvey’s leadership through YEA!.

Harvey was a force of nature who touched many lives. As news of his passing spread, the family was deeply moved by many kindhearted comments from all phases of Harvey’s life. A few are shared here:

“An icon in the arts community;” “A force to be reckoned with, with a true lust for life;” “He was one of a kind and had a very kind soul;” and “He taught me to see things in a different way. That was his magic.”

Today, YEA! is overseen by the Open Studio Project. This year’s YEA! Festival 2026 will be held at Raymond Park on Saturday, May 16, where Hope Washinushi, the YEA! board president and director of the Open Studio Project, will honor Harvey with a commemorative banner. Hope said, “When Harvey stepped down, it was an honor and privilege for me to continue his vision of YEA! He was an amazing man with so much passion and love for our arts community.”

Harvey is survived by his son, Jon Pranian (Trish Perez); daughter, Katy Pranian (Lisa Howley); and by his cherished grandchildren, Callie Pranian (daughter of Katy); and Riley, Jake and Luke Pranian (children of Jon). He is also survived by his former wife, Rosalyn Parisien, along with many extended family and friends who will remember him with deep love and appreciation.

Family and friends will gather at 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 28, at the Unitarian Church of Evanston, 1330 Ridge Ave., for a memorial service and celebration of Harvey’s life. All are welcome to attend.

Those wishing to honor Harvey’s memory, please consider a donation to the YEA! Harvey Pranian Legacy Fund for the Arts.