NEW COLLECTION OF THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, 2021-2022. Part III

Participant artists:  Alexander Bazhbeuk-Melikyan, Alexander Berdysheff, Besik Arbolishvili, Dato Sulakauri, David Alexidze, Ekaterine Gelovani, Gela Zautashvili, Gia Khutsishvili, Giorgi Mirzashvili, Kakhaber Tatishvili, Karaman Kutateladze, Ketevan Matabeli, Koka Tskhvediani, Leila Shelia, Levan Chichinadze, Levan Chogoshvili, Levan Kharanauli, Levan Margiani, Malkhaz Datukishvili, Mamuka Mikeladze, Nugzar Natenadze, Tamuna Melikishvili, Tato Akhalkatsishvili, Temur Tatanashvili, Zaza Berdzenishvili, Zura Abkhazi, Zurab Gikashvili.  Head of the project Alexandra Gabunia.

In 2021–2022, the Ministry of Culture and Sport of Georgia was able to add new acquisitions to the Shalva Amiranashvili State Museum of Fine Art’s collection of modern and contemporary Georgian art. These are the works of 116 Georgian artists that the museum did not hold or represented insufficiently, or  since they might have left the country, it was vital to acquire them as rare cultural heritage examples.  The new collection demonstrates an impressive picture of Georgian artistic development: A new collection of graphics by 1950s/1970s artists. Acquired works were limited to artists whose creativity made a significant contribution to the development of Georgian graphic art. The collection also includes works acquired after the first group exhibition of non-conformist artists held in the Sighnaghi Museum. Additionally, works by Valerian Sidamon-Eristavi from the 1930s were purchased, a number of which depict the construction of Baku’s industrial zone. The most significant, however, was the acquisition of paintings by the artists of the 1980s/1990s generation. In 2022, works by the Sergo Kobuladze were purchased Alexander Bazhbeuk-Melikyan, Felix Varlamishvili, and Kirill Zdanevich’s works were also purchased at the end of 2022. The new collection also includes artworks donated by the artists whose exhibitions were held at the Dimitri Shevardnadze National Gallery from October 20, 2021, to the present. 

The new collection of the Sh. Amiranashvili State Museum of Fine Art is gradually displayed. In August and September 2022, the D. Shevardnadze National Gallery and the Sighnaghi Museum hosted the first two exhibitions. The exhibition series will continue.