The environs of the village of Kalauri in Kakheti are particularly rich in Medieval architectural monuments. The Church of St. George stands approximately one kilometer south of the village, in an old cemetery surrounded by large deciduous trees.

Shimmering glass, soft colors, silvery surfaces and distinctive packaging. Twelve Christmas tree ornaments, carefully placed in boxes of deep burgundy—the color of the state flag of the First Republic of Georgia—bore an engraved inscription: “Christmas is Coby.” Through this emotionally charged brand message, their creator, a Georgian immigrant, wished Americans a Merry Christmas.

It is difficult to find anyone in Georgia who is unfamiliar with Shota Rustaveli’s iconic 12th-century poem The Knight in the Panther’s Skin (Vephistkaosani). The poem recounts the exploits of the main characters, Tariel (who is the knight in the panther's skin) and Avtandil, in their quest for love.

Beno Gordeziani is regarded as one of the most prominent figures in Georgian avant-garde art. His name is most closely identified with the Dadaist-Futurist group known as 'H2SO4.' This literary-artistic association was established in 1924. In a similar way to the effect of sulfuric acid (the chemical formula of which is reflected in the group’s name), its members aspired to destroy everything old and outmoded in the creative world.

The Shaliani Icon is preserved in the most important shrine of Upper Svaneti — the Church of St. Kvirike (Lagurka). This modest, hall-type church is situated atop a mountain in the community (temi) of Kala, on the left bank of the Enguri River. Although architecturally unassuming, the church occupies a prominent place in the history of medieval Georgian art. Its interior is adorned with remarkable 12th-century frescoes attributed to the renowned royal artist Theodore. The church treasury houses exceptional examples of medieval Georgian goldsmithing, among them the Shaliani Icon, a masterpiece of Byzantine origin.

The church is dated to the 10th c. and is built of well-cut ashlar. It is a single nave church with a projecting apse and an ambulatory. The western façade is decorated with thick blind arches that imbue the small building with an air of monumentality. The sanctuary is separated from the hall by a five-arched chancel-barrier.

Albert Dilbaryan, known as Dilbo, emerged from the generation of the 1960s. His pictorial mise-en-scènes, shaped by a melancholic yet romantic worldview, stand apart from both the dominant styles of his contemporaries and the broader post-Stalinist canon. Though he never openly opposed Soviet ideology, Dilbo remained a quiet dissenter within his own “artistic shell.” For him, depicting unrealistic or fantastical imagery became a means for escaping the constraints of a collectivistic society.

In 1960s Tbilisi, the name Elguja Amashukeli quickly became famous. It was impossible to be in the city without hearing about him, and even more impossible not to notice his public works. They became instant landmarks, and have remained as symbols of the city ever since.

King Erekle was a son of King of Kakheti Teimuraz II. King Teimuraz II ruled Kakheti from 1709 to 1744, first as a governor, and then as King of Kartli from 1744. Interestingly, Teimuraz’s father, Erekle I (1688-1709), and brother, Constantine II (1722-1732), were not distinguished by their devotion to Christian religion or high ideals. Indeed, their biographies show that power was more important to them than the well-being of their subjects or peaceful relations with the neighboring rulers. Yet, it appears that, unlike his father and brother, Teimuraz was firmly determined to defend Christianity and establish an alliance with Russia so as to be able to defend his kingdom against its Muslim neighbors. Erekle II’s mother, Tamar, was the daughter of King Vakhtang VI (1716-24), so the prince, born in Telavi on November 7, 1720, united both the Kartlian and Kakhetian branches of the Bagrationi dynasty of Eastern Georgia.

Khirsa Monastery, located in the village of Tibaani in Sighnaghi Municipality, Kakheti Province, is one of the oldest monastic foundations in Georgia. It was established in the mid-sixth century by St. Stephen, one of the group of monks known as the “Thirteen Syrian Fathers.” The Church of St. Stephen, standing at the center of the precinct, reflects the monastery’s turbulent history. With its irregular forms and walls constructed from various materials, it bears traces of at least four major construction periods.

Piruza is the name of a building that stands out from all other country houses, both in terms of its artistic design and its vibrant colors. It stands near the entrance to the main park of Borjomi. Mirza Reza Khan, an Iranian diplomat who served as the Iranian Consul General in Tbilisi from 1889 to 1895, constructed Piruza on a piece of land that he had earlier purchased with the permission of Nicholas Mikhailovich Romanov, Grand Duke and a Viceroy of the Caucasus (1863–1881).

Sergo Kobuladze, People's Artist of Georgia and laureate of the Shota Rustaveli Prize, was among the first generation of graduates from the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts. His creative legacy includes painting and graphic art, as well as theatrical design and photography. His contribution to scientific and research work is also significant.

Georgia’s geographical location has long positioned it as a natural crossroad of civilizations. Despite centuries of external influences, the country has managed to preserve its cultural identity. Today, as Georgia tries to re-establish itself on the world map, our goal—alongside developing common values and participating in global processes—is to safeguard and celebrate that identity. I believe Svaneti and its renovated museum play an important role in this endeavor.

In 1973, director Giorgi Shengelaia made the first Georgian musical, Melodies of Vera Quarter. The film tells the story of two young sisters, Tamro and Maro, who dream of learning to dance but cannot afford the opportunity. However, in the old, historic Vera district of Tbilisi, they meet a kind-hearted laundress named Vardo, who helps the orphaned girls to pursue their dream. On Christmas Eve, Vardo stirs up such a commotion in the neighborhood that it almost leads to a full-blown uprising. At the heart of these events is an Italian couple who run the Vera District dance class.

In the 1540s, Queen Tinatin, wife of King Levan of Kakheti (1520-1574), established the monastery of Akhali Shuamta. Akhali in Georgian means “new,” and the place was referred to in this way so as to distinguish it from Dzveli (“old”) Shuamta, a renowned early Medieval monastery located two kilometers away, which was closed and abandoned at Tinatin’s order.