Sumbat Der Kiureghian was born in 1912 in an Armenian family in Jolfa, Isfahan. At the age of seven, Sumbat's artistic talent was noticed by his older sister, but the turning point of his artistic life and the reason for his return to art was the arrival of Sarkis Khachatourian, a famous Armenian painter living in Paris, to Isfahan to paint the magnificent murals of Aali Qapu and Chehel sotoon. 

He learned a lot from Khachatourian's skill in using brushes and choosing colors, and from his knowledge of the works of Western, Indian, Japanese, and African artists. He was also a student of masters such as Hakoup Vartanian, Yeghia Valijanian, and Sir William Russell Flint (an eminent English watercolorist).

Sumbat's paintings' subjects are narrowed down to Iran's people, architecture, and nature. In addition to the bridges, palaces, squares, alleys, and markets of Isfahan. His watercolor paintings are focused on the people in those neighborhoods, native people, and daily life; Something that was less noticed by painters at that time; Therefore, Sumbat is known as an anthropological painter. He was the narrator of Iranian life and Iranian people.

In 1930, Sumbat Der Kiureghian opened a gallery called Sumbat Gallery on Chaharbagh Street, Isfahan. Sumbat continued his artistic activity in Isfahan until 1971 when he came to Tehran and in 1972 established his gallery in Tehran. Sumbat Der Kiureghian immigrated to America in 1980 and died after 20 years.