Giorgi (Gigo) Gabashvili – Georgian painter, graphic artist, and People’s Artist of Georgia (1929), was one of the founders of modern Georgian realistic painting.
In 1882-1883, Gabashvili studied at the Kempen private art school in Tbilisi. He collaborated with the battle artist Franz Roubaud, who created paintings for the Military-Historical Museum of Tbilisi.
From 1886 to 1888, he furthered his studies at the St. Petersburg Art Academy under the guidance of Professor B. Willewalde.
He was the first Georgian artist to hold a personal exhibition, which took place in Tbilisi in 1891 at the Cathedral of Glory (now the National Gallery). The press of that time unanimously recognized the artist’s talent. In 1891, during his trip to the Caucasus, American millionaire Charles Crane became acquainted with the work of Tbilisi artists and commissioned Gigo Gabashvili to paint scenes of the Caucasus and Central Asia. For this purpose, in 1893-1894, the artist traveled to these regions, creating a renowned series on the theme of Samarkand.
In 1894-1897, Gigo Gabashvili, already a professional artist, continued his studies at the Munich Academy of Fine Arts under Professor A. Wagner.
In 1897, he founded a private art studio in Tbilisi. Starting in 1901, he taught at the art school operated by the Caucasus Society for Promotion of Fine Arts. In 1922, he was one of the founders of the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts and its first professor (1922-1930).
Gigo Gabashvili, a member of the 19th-century Western realistic painting school, is widely regarded as the founder of the Georgian realistic academic school. His body of work, which includes paintings, graphic works, and photographs, also reflects his passion for modern European painting, particularly symbolism. This aspect of his legacy has only recently come to light and continues to be explored.
Most of his rich creative legacy is preserved in the National Museum of Georgia, in accordance with his will.