ZURAB GIKASHVILI

Zurab Gikashvili was born on August 5th, 1961 in Kvareli, Georgia

EDUCATION:

 Tbilisi State Academy of Arts, Tbilisi, Georgia (1986-1992)

Art College of Iakob Nikoladze, Tbilisi, Georgia (1976-1980)

Art School of Elene Akhvlediani, Telavi, Georgia (1972-1976)  

 In 1986, Zurab Gikashvili enrolled at the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts with the highest marks. He was awarded the David Kakabadze scholarship and also began receiving the Niko Pirosmani scholarship. 

In 1987, following a competition held by the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts, he was selected for a student exchange program and sent to the Academy of Arts, Architecture, and Design in Prague, Czechoslovakia.

 In 1991, Zurab Gikashvili won the competition of emerging artists of the USSR. Subsequently, he was invited as a guest of honor at the 1st Mediterranean Atelier, organized by the art critic and historian of contemporary art Achille Bonito Oliva. The Atelier was held in Gibellina, Italy, with German contemporary artist Markus Lupertz serving as its head.

Zurab's artwork was selected by Lupertz for the exhibition at the Civic Museum of Contemporary Art, Gibellina, Italy, from March 18th to April 18th, 1992. The exhibition was organized by Italian sculptor Francesco Messina, founder of the Francesco Messina Studio.

  As one of the leading contemporary artists of Georgia, Zurab Gikashvili's artworks were exhibited at The Royal Academy of London Summer Exhibition in 2000. The exhibition was opened by the President of Georgia Eduard Shevardnadze.  

  Zurab Gikashvili represented Georgia (country) at Prague Biennale in 2009. 

His artworks are part of various collections, including The Huma Kabakcı Collection in Turkey, The National Museum of Georgia, the Ambrolauri Museum of Fine Arts in Georgia, The Historical Museum of Kharagauli in Georgia, The Gibellina Civic Museum of Contemporary Art in Italy, and Das Seewerk Museum in Moers, Germany.  

 Zurab Gikashvili had a solo exhibition at The Karl Ernst Osthaus-Museum in Hagen, Germany, from September 25th to November 22nd, 2015.