Marina Eliozishvili – Artist

A Brief Introduction (Family, Life, and Creative Work)

I was born in Tbilisi into a family that prioritized spiritual values, humanism, and kindness. My parents were people of science and the arts: my mother, Tsetsilia Kalandadze, was a professor and historian who specialized in cultural relations. My father, Vakhtang Eliozishvili-Eristavi, was a physician, a talented amateur artist, and a memoirist; he was a descendant of the ancient princely house of Eristavi-Medjvriskhevski. From a young age, I watched him draw with great interest. I grew up in a home filled with paintings, books, vintage photographs, and family heirlooms—an environment that shaped my taste and aesthetic sensibilities. As a child, I became passionate about creating portraits and compositions; my first drawing, at age three, was a portrait of my nanny. By nature, I am a dreamer; I read a great deal and spend much time in reflection. I was a highly impressionable child, and I never doubted that I would become an artist. While still in school, I began studying drawing under the prominent Georgian artist Sergo Kobuladze. Upon graduating from school, I was admitted to the Tbilisi Academy of Arts, where I majored in graphic arts. After completing my studies at the Academy, I continued to work in Sergo Kobuladze’s studio, beginning in 1974.
My work encompasses both painting and graphic arts. I explore various genres—including portraiture, still life, abstraction, and figurative composition—utilizing a diverse range of media, such as oil, gouache, watercolor, pastel, and pencil. From 1977 to 1978, I held a position at the Academy of Arts. I have been a member of the Artists' Union since 1986. Since 1978, I have been teaching art at Tbilisi State University. My husband, Vladimir Asatiani—a renowned painter, professor, and Doctor of Philosophy—also teaches art at Tbilisi State University.
I frequently participate in art exhibitions, both in Georgia and abroad, and occasionally hold solo exhibitions. My works are held in the collection of the Georgian Museum of Fine Arts and are featured in its permanent exhibition. I am rarely fully satisfied with what I have achieved and am always striving for something new; I believe I am capable of reaching even greater heights in my creative work.
Beyond my professional field, I have other interests: in my spare time, I compile brief biographies of my ancestors. In 2010, to mark the centenary of my father’s birth, I curated an exhibition project titled "The Cultural Heritage of One Family," which was presented by the Georgian National Museum at the Tbilisi History Museum.
As for the younger generation of our family—which, as mentioned, has strong ties to the arts and the humanities—my daughter, Nino Tsereteli, is an art historian by training. From a young age, she served as the "muse" for many of my works, including portraits and thematic compositions. Currently, she works in the field of finance. My grandchildren, Ani and Nika, are also studying business—though who knows, perhaps fate will eventually lead them toward the arts.
For many years—since its very inception—I have been a member of the "Tbilisi" club of Soroptimist International, an organization founded in the United States in 1921. Its members advocate for human rights and the rights of women worldwide. I served as president of the club from 2008 to 2010, and I currently act as its cultural coordinator. The club has carried out several charitable projects and cultural events in Georgia. In 1997, I participated in an international exhibition of female artists from Soroptimist International, held at the Saint-Georges Museum in Liège, Belgium.
As for my plans, I intend to focus on my creative work whenever possible and devote more time to painting. I have artistic projects I dream of realizing, further developing the hallmarks of my personal style—a blend of graceful drawing and vibrant color patches, smooth tonal transitions and expressive, distinct lines. I plan to continue working with live subjects, still lifes, and compositions—both figurative and abstract.

Personal Exhibitions: 

1994 - Tbilisi Business Club, Tbilisi.
1998 - State Art Museum of Georgia, Tbilisi.
1999 - TBC Bank Office, Tbilisi.
2001 - UN Office, Tbilisi.
2005 - Gallery Universe, Tbilisi.
2005 - UN Office, Tbilisi.
2008 - "Maski", Tbilisi.
2010- Adjara State Art Museum, Batumi.
2022 - Exhibition Hall of the National Library of the Parliament of Georgia
Art Projects:
2013 - Art Workshop for Turkey Guzelbahce.
2005 - Fall Workshop of Lithography, Georgian Artists Union, Lithography Art Studio, Tbilisi, Georgia.
1994 - Georgian Art Exhibition-auction, Business Centre, Tbilisi, Georgia.

Awards

In 2015, Mrs. M. Eliozishvili participated in the International Competitive Exhibition "Arts Innovation" which was held in New York, Manhattan, at the gallery "West Park Art Gallery". According to the decision of the "New York Realism Fine Art" Artists' Society jury, she won the competition, took first place, and was awarded the gold medal in the REALISM category. Her works were published in the relevant catalog.