Georgia Today interviews Natalia Lashkhi, winner of the 2020–2021 BI Auction Competition for Young Artists, organized by the BI Auction House in Georgia. Lashkhi discusses how the award provided early exposure, sales to collectors, and a career springboard, leading to international exhibitions, residencies in Germany, Malta, and Lithuania, and her works entering private collections across multiple countries. Since 2024, she has also become a lecturer at the Apollon Kutateladze Tbilisi State Academy of Art.
The article highlights the role of the BI Auction Competition in nurturing emerging Georgian artists by offering visibility, mentorship, and market access. Lashkhi’s trajectory from student winner to international exhibitor and educator illustrates how such local platforms can catalyze global careers, underscoring the importance of targeted support for young artists in smaller art markets.