National Gallery hosts Mikheil Iashvili’s anniversary exhibition

Georgia: Mikheil Iashvili’s anniversary retrospective scale exhibition, “Misha Iashvili 70,” was opened in Dimitri Shevardnadze National Gallery with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Sports of Georgia.

The bilingual (Georgian-English) catalog of the artist’s works, published with the support of the Ministry of Culture, was also presented.

The exhibition presents the artist’s works from up to 50 different genres, and visitors can view them through September 15.

It should be noted that in 2023, six works of Mikheil Iashvili (painting, collage) returned to Georgia with the support of the Ministry of Culture, which were sent to Germany for exhibition during the painter’s life and remained there for a long time. These artworks were exhibited for the first time.

Mikheil Iashvili participated in up to 160 Republican, union, and international exhibitions. Exhibitions of his works were held in Germany, Poland, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Switzerland, Norway, Malta, France and Egypt. Among them were 16 solo exhibitions.

In the 80s of the 20th century, a generation of painters appeared in the arena, establishing a new stage in Georgian art in form or substance. Forgotten historical or religious themes, new interpretations of artistic forms, intensive, individual creative searches—these are the characteristics of Georgian painting of this period.

Mikheil Iashvili is a charismatic artist of his generation. He graduated from the Academy of Arts in 1979. In 1981-1983, he enrolled in the workshop of Ucha Japaridze. From 1989 to 1999, he was one of the leaders of the Union of Painters of Georgia; in the ’90s, he was president of the Painters Club “Firosmani,” and from 2009 to 2012, he invited a professor at Tbilisi Academy of Art.

The painter’s biography is rich and diverse. He is an exciting creator and organizer of many projects and exhibitions in Georgia and abroad. He is remembered as having celebrations in various cities of Georgia, in Muval village, in the yards of old Tbilisi, or spontaneous events.

As his friends recall, Misha Iashvili was a tremendous enthusiast, exceptionally determined, persistent in making an idea a reality, and, at the same time, an irreparable romantic.

His works are diverse. Paintings, graphics, collages, different styles, experiments—everything reflects the artist’s unique world, and everywhere, you feel a strangely touching vibe.