In 2025, Gvantsa Jishkariani stuns with “Trauma Porn” at Raster Gallery and joins top shows in Brussels, London, and New York—still sharp, still vital.
GVANTSA JISHKARIANI'S ART, Curator and Gallery Founder: A CLOSER LOOK
Gvantsa Jishkariani doesn’t soften the blow. She embroiders it.
Across old Soviet tapestries, she threads phrases like “Brutal Honesty”, “Formal Moral”, or “Generational Trauma.”
Her embroidery isn't decorative—it's declarative. Gvantsa Jishkariani stitches discomfort straight into your living room wall.
They don’t whisper. They announce.
Her works turn domestic nostalgia into political landmines—mixing the visual language of grandma’s wall décor with slogans that feel like a mix of academic theory, protest signs, and private therapy notes.
Born in 1991—the same year Georgia regained independence—Jishkariani has always moved between personal myth and collective memory.
But in the past year, her presence has expanded far beyond Georgia. In 2025 alone, she’s shown in Tbilisi Independent (London), Where To? (New York), Unbound Trajectories of the Future (Tbilisi), Rings a Bell(Brussels), and Art Brussels with both The Why Not Gallery and Verduyn Gallery.
Her solo exhibition “Trauma Porn” at Raster Gallery in Warsaw was a revelation: a blisteringly clever, devastatingly precise show that explored how trauma becomes product—how it’s marketed, digested, and exported.
Jishkariani doesn’t just reference post-Soviet reality—she distorts it, stitches into it, mocks it. Her embroidered tapestries, installations, and sculptural works are full of contradictions: handcrafted and confrontational, absurd and sharp, decorative and disturbing.
She places soft toys next to existential panic, glitter next to grief. The effect? You smile. Then you pause. Then you realize you’re holding your breath.
Her materials—often sourced from Soviet-era decorative culture—carry the residue of past systems, but Jishkariani overlays them with the coded language of contemporary trauma: therapy culture, feminist catchphrases, NGO-speak.
It’s satire in slow stitches, turning wall-hangings into time bombs.
But her influence isn’t just visual—it’s structural. She remains one of the most important figures in Georgia’s contemporary art landscape, not only as an artist, but as a cultural architect.
She co-runs Patara Gallery and The Why Not Gallery, two spaces that consistently support emerging and experimental artists.
She was the founder of Gar-Gar, Georgia’s first magazine on art and fashion, and was curator of the Tbilisi Photo Festival.
More about the Patara Gallery
The Why not Gallery
Her curatorial and editorial work has long been about carving space for others, even while her own star rises.
She currently lives and works between Tbilisi and Madrid, and her works are now part of major collections including the Alain Servais Collection, Collezione Taurisano, the Royal Family of UAE, and the Marval Collection.
If there’s one thing her art refuses to do, it’s behave.
And that’s exactly why it’s unforgettable.
Follow for more projects and updates:
🎨 Artist: @naivesuperstar
🏛️ Galleries: @pataragallery & @thewhynotgallery
🎪 Upcoming fair: @artwarsaw this May
Stay tuned & support the scene.
Dominique Catherina Foertig
Gvantsa Jishkariani with The Why not Gallery and Verduyn Gallery - Art fair special
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Gvantsa Jishkariani, born in 1991 in Rustavi, has emerged as a compelling figure in the contemporary art and curatorial scene, primarily operating out of Tbilisi and Madrid.
Her academic foundation was laid at the Tbilisi State Academy Of The Fine Arts, where she majored in Architecture, graduating in 2013.
She further honed her skills and theoretical understanding by completing a master's program in Creative Mediation at the Centre of Contemporary Art-Tbilisi in 2015.
Video: Gvantsa Jishkariani - "I Hate Poetry," 6-part visual-audial opera, sound composed by Aghnie, 2023 | Courtesy of the artist
Jishkariani's work is a testament to her relentless pursuit of experimentation, deeply rooted in the visual and cultural tapestry of her homeland.
She skillfully navigates the aesthetic and decorative nuances of Georgia's recent Soviet history and Post-soviet periods, employing them as a canvas upon which she projects her contemporary reinterpretations.
Gvantsa Jishkariani - "I Love You," Glazed Ceramics, Fountain Engine, Water, 2023 right: "Leaning Against the Winds," 2023, Marble and Pink Opal Mosaic on Wood, Leather Ribbons, 214x95 cm, Detail | Image Courtesy of the Artist
These artistic expressions not only bridge generational and temporal divides but also serve as a medium through which she both distances herself from and remains deeply connected to her cultural heritage.
Jishkariani's artistic practice is a dynamic exploration of universal tastes, trends, and the genesis of future myths and traditions.
She delves into personal narratives that, despite their individual specificity, echo the collective experiences of her generation.
Her art is driven by a keen sensitivity to the anxieties and challenges faced by her peers, including economic disparities, social media's influence, and the pervasive fear of failure.
Through her work, Jishkariani seeks to give form to these fears, employing traditional imagery and techniques to both confront and control them, thus crafting contemporary pieces that resonate with and speak the language of her generation.
CURATORIAL VENTURES AND PROJECTS:
Her curatorial ventures mirror the vibrancy of her artistic practice. Jishkariani is the visionary behind Patara Gallery and The Why Not Gallery In Tbilisi, platforms she established to champion young Georgian artists and inject fresh perspectives into the art scene.
These galleries, alongside her role in curating the Tbilisi Photo Festival Night Of Photography and founding Gargar magazine, underscore her commitment to fostering a thriving community of artists and art enthusiasts.
Patara Gallery, conceived in 2017, stands as a testament to Jishkariani's innovative spirit.
It has become a beacon for experimental and bold contemporary art, welcoming all regardless of status or background.
Patara Gallery official Website
Its unique location in an underground passage and its history of relocation reflect its fluid identity and resilience.
The Why Not Gallery, founded in 2018, further exemplifies Jishkariani's response to spatial and creative challenges, offering a vibrant space for video art and photography, and later expanding to host a broader array of contemporary works, with a particular focus on female and queer artists, as well as artists from the Soviet era.
Official Why NOT Gallery and Shop
Jishkariani's work extends beyond traditional canvases to include video making, where she explores the impacts of media and entertainment on society.
Her films are a chaotic blend of humor and visual intensity, contrasting sharply with her other media works.
This multifaceted approach to art and curation, characterized by a playful yet profound engagement with material and technique, positions Gvantsa Jishkariani as a luminary in the contemporary art world.
Her endeavors not only challenge and reinterpret cultural norms but also offer healing and introspection, making her a prominent and promising figure in the realms of art and curation.
SUPPORT GVANTSA JISHKARIANI: FOLLOW HER ART
Stay updated with Gvantsa Jishkariani's art and her galleries, Patara Gallery and The Why Not Gallery.
Kvanta Jishkariani | Website
Follow her on Instagram and visit her Website for the latest exhibitions and projects. Support her creative journey!
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