Bonhams is launching the first-ever major auction dedicated exclusively to Georgian contemporary art, titled "Georgian Art Now." The online sale runs from May 19 to 29 and features works by leading Georgian artists including Rusudan Petviashvili, Lia Bagrationi, Niniko Morbedadze, and Merab Gagiladze. The auction was curated by Daria Khristova, Head of Sales at Bonhams, who traveled to Tbilisi to select the lineup of paintings, sculptures, photography, and works on paper.
This auction matters because it marks a historic shift for Georgian art, which has long been misclassified under "Russian Art" or post-Soviet categories in major sales at Christie's, Sotheby's, and Bonhams. By establishing Georgian art as a distinct category, the sale aims to increase international visibility, set pricing standards, and recognize Georgia's unique cultural identity. The event reflects Tbilisi's emergence as a regional art hub and could catalyze broader market recognition for the country's contemporary artists.