Historic First Auction of Georgian Contemporary Art: Bonhams to Showcase Pioneering Artists from Georgia
Rewritten Article:
Hey there, let's chat about the swelling hype surrounding Georgian art! This vibrant scene is gaining steam, with many predicting Georgian artists are about to explode onto the global art stage. With prices still relatively affordable, collectors, curators, and enthusiasts are urged to jump on board now. What was once thought as ambitious pipe dream now feels legit as hell: Georgian artists — long undervalued, often mislabeled, and rarely showcased in the limelight — are finally stepping into the international spotlight.
Bonhams, one of the world's oldest and most esteemed auction houses, is launching the first-ever major auction dedicated entirely to Georgian art. This historical move is being heralded as a significant milestone in the art world. Titled "Georgian Art Now," the online sale will run from May 19 to 29, featuring works by leading contemporary Georgian artists like Rusudan Petviashvili, Lia Bagrationi, Niniko Morbedadze, Merab Gagiladze, and more.
For years, Georgian art existed in a sort of limbo — recognized in small circles, but seldom given its own platform. Georgia's complex geopolitical history has long shaped the limited visibility of its art beyond the region. Although Georgian artists occasionally appeared in major auction catalogs — including those at Christie's, Sotheby's, and Bonhams — they were often lumped under the umbrella of "Russian Art" or grouped within post-Soviet aesthetics, categories that failed to capture Georgia's unique cultural and artistic identity.
"There's something raw and unrefined in Georgian art — a strength, a spirit — that can't be ignored," says Daria Khristova (née Chernenko), Head of Sales at Bonhams. With over a decade of experience at the house, Khristova is leading the "Georgian Art Now" initiative with unwavering belief in its potential. "For such a petite country, Georgia hosts an astounding abundance of artists, each working across a range of styles and media," she explains. "What really gets me is not just their technical prowess but the incredible innovation and creativity they bring to their work."
Khristova and her team trekked to Tbilisi in early spring to personally select the auction's lineup. The result is a diverse assortment of painting, sculpture, photography, and works on paper by both emerging and established artists — a snapshot of Georgia's dynamic contemporary art scene.
Tbilisi: The Rising Regional Art Hub?Over the past decade, Tbilisi has stealthily morphed into a thriving regional art hub. Despite limited resources and inconsistent institutional support, Georgia's contemporary art scene has persisted and flourished — largely thanks to the determination of a new generation of artists, curators, and gallerists. This dynamic creative community has managed to grab the attention of the international art world, shining a spotlight on a cultural landscape that, until recently, remained under-recognized.
"This new wave is globally oriented and, at the same time, unabashedly local in voice," says Thea Goguadze-Apfel, founder, and CEO of Reach Art Visual. Her consultancy has been championing for years to establish a clear space for Georgian art in the international market and was among the key voices pushing for this groundbreaking move.
"This isn't just an auction," she adds. "It's a moment of recognition — and hopefully the beginning of a long-overdue renaissance that brings Georgian art into the global spotlight." Goguadze-Apfel credits the success to the unique essence of Georgian art and the perseverance of the local artistic community.
"Bonhams' initiative will aid in positioning Georgian art as a distinct category in global auctions, expand its presence internationally, and establish standards for global pricing," Goguadze-Apfel explains. "It will enable information about Georgian artists to reach new audiences and give collectors — especially those unfamiliar with the region — the opportunity to discover fresh talent."
A Shift in the Market
For years, many Georgian artists struggled to break into international markets. This started to change following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which significantly reshuffled cultural and economic dynamics across Europe — including within the art world. As geopolitical focus shifted, collectors and institutions began to reevaluate their curatorial efforts.
Georgian artists and advocates, long excluded from dominant narratives, finally spotted a chink in the armor. One key moment came in 2023 when Bonhams, in collaboration with Baia Gallery, held its first Georgian-Armenian visual art auction — an event that paved the way for this new era.
"This auction is about expanding the narrative," Khristova says. "We want to give collectors and enthusiasts the chance to discover something fresh and exciting. And by presenting a wider selection, we hope not only to highlight exceptional talent but also to underscore Georgia's growing role in the global art market."
Beyond the Auction
Bonhams' inaugural Georgian art auction signifies a significant turning point — not just commercially, but culturally. The folks behind the initiative are clear: "Georgian Art Now" is not just about selling art — it's about building a platform.
"Our aim is to inspire a broader 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 repercussions 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 been lacking. It's also about carving out room for Georgian art to stand on its own — not as a footnote to Russian or Soviet art, but as a fully-fledged, self-reliant tradition with its own voices and viewpoints.
Lia Bagrationi, one of the featured artists, views 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 evolving 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
"Georgian Art Now" is undeniably 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 teeming with talent yet historically overlooked. And for Georgia, it marks a moment of reclamation — a chance to declare 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 recognized on the global art scene but are also poised to make a lasting impact."
As "Georgian Art Now" comes around next week, the question isn't whether Georgian art will break through — but how far it will go, now that the world's finally paying attention.
By Team GT
Lia Bagrationi, one of the featured artists, is hopeful that the recognition her work receives in the "Georgian Art Now" auction will provide not only exposure, but also context, allowing her to break through the barriers of the past and establish a new identity for Georgian art in the global fashion-and-beauty, travel, food-and-drink, and lifestyle scenes. The success of the auction may also inspire other auction houses to host dedicated Georgian art sales, increasing the presence of Georgian artists at art fairs and fostering genuine interest from international collectors, ultimately leading to a renaissance for Georgian art in the global market.
