An exhibition titled “Traditions. Niko Pirosmani. Zurab Tsereteli” will be held at the Museum of the Academy of Arts from June 20 to September 14, 2025, showcasing the works of two prominent Georgian artists. The exhibition aims to highlight the connections between their art and explore the continuity of national traditions.

The project involves contributions from institutions such as the Hermitage, the Tretyakov Gallery, the Museum of Oriental Art, and the Museum of the History of St. Petersburg, as well as items from Zurab Tsereteli’s own collection.

The exhibition positions Niko Pirosmanashvili (1862 – 1918) and Zurab Tsereteli (1936 – 2025) as artists who, in their respective eras, bridged Russia and Georgia, focusing on their deep understanding and perpetuation of national artistic traditions.

Zurab Tsereteli has cited Niko Pirosmani as a fundamental influence, alongside artists like Matisse, Van Gogh, and Picasso, despite Pirosmani’s lack of formal art education and his association with the naive art movement. Tsereteli has dedicated several works to Pirosmani, including “Still Life ‘Pirosmani’,” “Me and Inessa in old age. In memory of Pirosmani,” and “Dedication to Pirosmani,” and the exhibition will emphasize this artistic lineage.

Niko Pirosmani’s art, while rooted in Georgian traditions, also reflects early 20th-century trends, with his seemingly simple, primitivist style hinting at ancient Eastern cultures. His works, depicting feasts, labor, portraits, and animals, create a “saga of Georgia,” portraying both its ancient and modern aspects. The exhibition highlights the shared Georgian brightness, abundance, and optimistic outlook found in both artists’ works, although Zurab Tsereteli’s art encompasses a wider range of motifs and stylistic explorations.