There’s a growing buzz around Georgian art, with many saying the country’s artists are poised to become the next major wave on the global stage. Collectors, curators, and enthusiasts are being urged to act now, while prices remain relatively accessible. What once seemed like ambitious speculation now feels entirely real: Georgia’s artists — long overlooked, often miscategorized, and rarely granted full visibility — are finally stepping into the international spotlight.
Bonhams — one of the world’s oldest and most respected auction houses — is launching the first-ever major auction dedicated exclusively to Georgian art, in what many are calling a historic and long-overdue milestone. Titled Georgian Art Now, the online sale will run from May 19 to 29, featuring works by leading contemporary Georgian artists such as Rusudan Petviashvili, Lia Bagrationi, Niniko Morbedadze, Merab Gagiladze, and others.
For years, Georgian art existed in a kind of liminal space — recognized in small circles, but rarely given a platform of its own. The country’s complex geopolitical past has long shaped the limited visibility of its art beyond the region. Though Georgian artists occasionally appeared in major auction catalogues — including those at Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and Bonhams, they were often presented under the umbrella of “Russian Art” or grouped within post-Soviet aesthetics, categories that failed to do justice to Georgia’s distinct cultural and artistic identity.
“There’s a raw authenticity in Georgian art — a strength, a spirit — that’s impossible to ignore,” says Daria Khristova (née Chernenko), Head of Sales at Bonhams. With more than 12 years of experience at the house, Khristova is leading the Georgian Art Now initiative with firm belief in its potential. “For such a modestly sized country, Georgia is home to an extraordinary wealth of artists, each working across diverse styles and media,” she explains. “What strikes me most is not only their technical mastery but the incredible innovation and creativity they bring to their practice.”
Khristova and her team traveled to Tbilisi in early spring to hand-pick the auction’s lineup. The result is a diverse selection of painting, sculpture, photography, and works on paper by both emerging and established artists — a snapshot of Georgia’s dynamic contemporary art scene.
Tbilisi: A New Regional Art Hub?
Over the past decade, Tbilisi has quietly emerged as a vibrant regional art hub. Despite limited resources and inconsistent institutional support, Georgia’s contemporary art scene has continued to flourish — largely thanks to the determination of a new generation of artists, curators, and gallerists. This dynamic creative community has succeeded in drawing international attention to a cultural landscape that, until recently, remained largely under-recognized.
“This new wave is global in outlook and, at the same time, unapologetically local in voice,” says Thea Goguadze-Apfel, founder and CEO of Reach Art Visual. Her consultancy has been advocating for years to establish a distinct space for Georgian art in the international market and was among the key voices lobbying for this breakthrough.
“This is more than just a sale,” she adds. “It’s a moment of recognition — and hopefully the beginning of a long-overdue renaissance that puts Georgian art in the global spotlight.”
Goguadze-Apfel credits the success to the unique character of Georgian art and the persistence of the local artistic community.
“Bonhams’ initiative will help position Georgian art as a distinct category in global auctions, expand its presence internationally, and establish standards for global pricing. It allows information about Georgian artists to reach new audiences and gives collectors — especially those unfamiliar with the region — the chance to discover fresh talent.”
A Shift in the Market
For years, many Georgian artists struggled to break into international markets. That began to change following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which dramatically reshaped cultural and economic dynamics across Europe — including within the art world. As geopolitical focus shifted, collectors and institutions began to reassess their curatorial efforts.
Georgian artists and advocates, long excluded from dominant narratives, finally saw a crack in the ceiling. One of the key moments came in 2023, when Bonhams, in collaboration with Baia Gallery, held its first Georgian-Armenian visual art auction — an event that laid the groundwork for this new chapter.
“This auction is about expanding the narrative,” Khristova says. “We want to give collectors and enthusiasts the chance to discover something new and exciting. And by presenting a broader selection, we hope not only to highlight exceptional talent but also to affirm Georgia’s growing role in the global art market.”
Beyond the Auction
Bonhams’ inaugural Georgian art auction marks a significant turning point — not only commercially, but culturally. Those behind the initiative are clear: Georgian Art Now is not just about selling works — it’s about building a platform.
“Our aim is to spark a wider movement to encourage more auction houses to hold dedicated Georgian art sales, increasing the presence of Georgian artists at art fairs, and fostering genuine interest from international collectors,” says Khristova.
The impact could be profound: more visibility for artists, greater access for collectors, and more opportunities for institutions to develop the critical frameworks that Georgian art has long lacked. It’s also about carving out space for Georgian art to stand on its own — not as a footnote to Russian or Soviet art, but as a fully-fledged, independent tradition with its own voices and perspectives.
Lia Bagrationi, one of the featured artists, sees this moment as both a challenge and an opportunity. “The work I presented at Bonhams is part of a series I created during the lockdown,” she says. “It captures the shifting rhythm of daily life in a spatial dimension. Having a platform like Bonhams matters — it’s not just about exposure, it’s about context. This is our chance to break through the barriers of the past.”
Looking Ahead
The Bonhams auction is undoubtedly a watershed moment — culturally, commercially and symbolically. For artists, it’s a long-awaited validation. For collectors, it’s a rare opportunity to invest in a region rich with talent yet historically overlooked. And for Georgia, it marks a moment of reclamation — a chance to assert its artistic identity on the global stage.
“We hope that this auction will serve as the catalyst for a series of events that will bring Georgian art to the forefront of the international art scene,” says Khristova. “In my view, Georgian artists not only deserve to be recognised on the global art scene but are also poised to make a lasting impact.”
As Georgian Art Now opens next week, the question is no longer whether Georgian art will break through — but just how far it will go, now that the world is finally paying attention.
By Team GT