Tedo Rekhviashvili b. 1990, Adigeni, Georgia
Tedo Rekhviashvili, a contemporary Georgian artist, captivates audiences with his deeply philosophical and visually compelling works. Born in Adigeni, Georgia, a post-war town marked by scarcity, Tedo’s artistic journey began with transforming simple materials into profound expressions of creativity. After graduating from Tbilisi School of Arts with honors, he pursued his education at the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts, mastering printmaking techniques and earning both bachelor’s and master’s degrees. His studies continued at the prestigious New York Academy of Art, where he specialized in figurative art, refining his ability to depict the human form with depth and nuance.
Tedo’s works explore themes of human existence, balance, and the passage of time. His acclaimed Tower of Babel series reflects on humanity’s aspirations for greatness and the consequences of excess, blending spontaneous color, layered textures, and impulsive lines to depict the tension between cosmic vastness and human vulnerability. Drawing inspiration from Eastern philosophy, thinkers like Lao Tzu, and his Georgian heritage, Tedo transforms philosophical ideas into powerful visual narratives.
His recent solo exhibition, Memory, Power, and Temptations, held at the Silk Factory during the Tbilisi Art Fair, was a multimedia exploration of history, identity, and societal transformation. Featuring layered paintings, intricate collages, and a central installation of discarded objects, the exhibition delved into themes of decay, resilience, and transience. Visitors were immersed in an evocative world of metaphors, including mythological creatures, a hermit’s shelter, and the unrelenting movement of a train, symbolizing the complexities of power, temptation, and human endurance.
With a growing international presence, including exhibitions in Tbilisi, New York, Venice and upcoming show in Milan, Tedo Rekhviashvili continues to push the boundaries of contemporary art. His works invite introspection, connecting the material and the metaphysical, offering audiences a profound and lasting impact.
