Georgia has become the birthplace of many illustrious people, and Georgian nature inspires artists of different genres and directions to create masterpieces of painting. Georgian artists are known far beyond their homeland, and their paintings are exhibited in famous museums and art galleries. It is impossible to pass by this beauty, filled with Georgian hospitality and nobility.
Masters of the past
Let's start with the artists who laid the creative foundations of the directions in which modern Georgian painting lives and develops.
1
Niko Pirosmani
The famous self-taught artist, a talented graphic artist who worked at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries, began by writing trade signs, and then became a recognized master of primitivism.
Pirosmani's works are exhibited at the Museum of Oriental Art and at the Tretyakov Gallery. Biography Niko is covered in many legends, including the acquisition of a million roses for the actress Margarita, with whom he was unrequitedly in love.
Many years later, this story became the plot for the song “A Million Scarlet Roses”. The Niko House Museum is considered the smallest museum in the world, as its exhibits are located on an area of only 6 m².
2
Moses Toidze
Moses, who later became a great painter, was born in Tiflis, and studied craftsmanship with Ilya Repin himself at the Imperial Academy of Arts.
From 1930 until his death in 1953 he taught at the Tbilisi Academy of Arts. Among his students were famous masters of painting and graphics, and the granddaughter went in the footsteps of her grandfather, and already received the title of Honored Artist of the Russian Federation.
In the capital of Georgia, at 3 Mitrofan Lagidze Street, the museum of the famous Georgian painter is located.
3
David Kakabadze
The first cubist of Georgia created unusual and peculiar collages, and studied painting in St. Petersburg. His decorative works have survived in good condition to this day.
After the revolution in Russia, he moved to France, where he fell under the influence of the Cubists. Later he began to create abstract works, harmoniously introducing volumetric objects into his paintings.
We recommend viewing an interesting article on most-beauty.ru about the most beautiful paintings in the world.
In the late 1920s he returned to the USSR, where he taught painting at the Academy of Arts, and returned to the creation of decorative paintings.
4
Gigo Gabashvili
The representative of the realistic school of painting created at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, and became famous as the founder of Georgian realism.
He created landscapes and portraits, skillfully painted in watercolor and oil. After studying in St. Petersburg, he went to Munich, where he continued to learn the secrets of painting.
Upon his return to Georgia, he became the first of the country's painters to receive a personal exhibition.
5
Valerian Sidamon-Eristavi
Valerian was born in 1889 in the town of Kvareli. He was brought up in a noble family, and his parents had enough money to send his son to study the art of painting in Moscow.
As a student, he took part in theatrical productions, and he himself did the scenery for the performances. Over time, he became a real theater artist, and also artistically designed films.
In his youth, he beautifully painted caricatures, illustrated book editions, and then his real passion was writing paintings on historical subjects.
6
Elena Akhvlediani
A native of Telavi, from an early age she became interested in painting, and contrary to her parents who dreamed of a career as a musician, her daughter Elena became an artist.
After studying in Tbilisi, I went to Italy, where I studied at the famous Colarossi Academy. The nature of Georgia inspired her to write magnificent Georgian landscapes.
She acted as a decorator for multiple performances, and also successfully made the decoration of films.
7
Ekaterina Bagdavadze
Another Georgian woman painter specializing mainly in portraits.
It was she who laid the foundations of portraiture in the Georgian region, and her works were exhibited in the most prestigious exhibition halls in the world. From her canvases mysterious and lovely female images look at us. On some canvases, beauties hold children in their arms, and the paintings look like real icons.
A special manner of performance, the selection of colors, the play of chiaroscuro, distinguish the Georgian artist among other portrait painters.
8
Lado Gudiashvili
In 1982, the artist Lado Gudiashvili became a national artist of the USSR, and a talented master began to write in the early twentieth century.
At the age of 14 he entered the art school, and in 1915 he held his first solo exhibition. The novice painter and graphic artist was then only 19 years old.
The artist himself never appreciated his work, but experts note the variety of styles and techniques in which his work was performed.
Contemporary Georgian artists
We will pass from the masters of the past to the painters of our time, who were born in sunny Georgia and became famous far beyond the borders of the North Caucasus.
1
Zurab Tsereteli
Tsereteli’s work can be treated differently, but the famous Georgian artist and sculptor became the author of most of the monuments erected on the streets and squares of Russian cities.
The monumental artist is the author of numerous mosaics, decorative panels that adorn buildings throughout the post-Soviet space and abroad.
In Moscow, the most famous works of the Georgian creator are the Victory Monument on Poklonnaya Hill and the monument to Peter I. His sculptural composition “Good conquers evil” stands in front of the UN building.
2
Niko Kherkeladze
Born in the small village of Akhalgori, Nico studied at the Tbilisi Academy of Arts, and in 1984 became a member of the International Art Fund.
The recognition of his work was the exhibition of his works in the Louvre and the election in 2010 of the Georgian master as an honorary member of the French Academy of Arts. He was recognized in his homeland, where master exhibitions are organized.
His works reflect the ordinary life of ordinary people, but the special manner of execution and the technique of applying paints make them truly masterpieces of world contemporary painting.
3
David Martiashvili
A native of Tbilisi with the biblical name David, after graduating from the School of Arts for Gifted Children, he studied painting at the Tbilisi Academy of Arts.
It works in the style of primitivism, and its colorful, light-filled works are acquired by collectors in the USA, France and other countries. David after a long search found his own special manner.
David Martiashvili now lives and works in Kiev, continuing to create magnificent paintings in which Georgian motifs are filled with light and optimism.
4
Lado Tevdoradze
The artist has his own gallery, where his best works by masters, not yet bought by collectors, are exhibited.
After graduating from the art school, Lado continued to comprehend the basics of painting at the Toidze Academy of Arts. He began his career with the painting of ancient churches.
After the frescoes I switched to work with canvas. Today, his works are widely represented in galleries in Russia, Georgia and European countries, and some are in private collections.
5
Yakov Dzhugashvili
The great-grandson of Joseph Stalin, the Georgian artist Yakov Dzhugashvili, after learning the art of painting in London, Glasgow and an internship in Europe, returned to his historical homeland.
Exhibited in leading galleries in European cities. Jacob's works can be seen in galleries, exhibition halls of the Georgian capital and in the city of Batumi.
Positive attitude to the personality of his famous ancestor. In addition to painting, the son of a military historian conducts active social activities, advocating the idea of the responsibility of state power to the people.
6
Vazha Meskhi
In 1985, a native of the Georgian capital graduated from the Academy of Arts, and in the same year was admitted to the Union of Artists of the USSR.
The subjects for his paintings, the artist Vazha Meskhi chose everyday scenes and architecture of Georgia at the beginning of the XIX century. Most of his works went into private collections.
Vazha continued the traditions of the great artists of Georgia, skillfully conveying the flavor and hospitality of the Georgian people in his works. Read the most informative article on the most famous and beautiful Georgians in history on most-beauty.ru.
7
Otar Imerlishvili
Otar's paintings depicting the life of the Georgian people, their traditions and culture, are not without a certain amount of humor.
After graduating from high school, where the boy’s ability to paint was noted, Otar entered the Niko Nikoladze art school. Later he received a diploma from the artist-restorer of the Academy of Arts.
The primitive in spirit and style restored the frescoes of ancient temples, restored the National Conservatory. Otar's paintings are exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art of Georgia, and also went to collections of art lovers.
8
Lizi varazi
In the photo: Lizi Varazi and Pablo Ferrari
Father Elizabeth, as the girl was called at birth, was also an artist, and the genes were transferred to a talented daughter.
After graduating from art school, Lizzie studied at the Academy of Culture. Her paintings were exhibited in Georgia and abroad. In 2009, a large exhibition was held in Kiev.
Photographer from Argentina Pablo Ferrari through the Internet met with a Georgian artist. Two years after they met, they played a wedding, and now the Argentinean lives among the picturesque landscapes of Georgia.
Conclusion
The mountain peaks of the Caucasus, the green valleys and the warm blue sea are conducive to creativity, and Georgian artists try to capture this incredible beauty in their works. Painters of past centuries laid the foundations of the country's fine art, and the younger generation of artists continues the glorious traditions of their predecessors.
Article author: Valery Skiba