NINA GAMSACHURDIA
Nina Gamsachurdia, born 1965 in Tbilisi, Georgia, daughter of a literature professor and a Germanist, studied at the State Academy of Arts (MA of Art), academic career.
Nina worked for many years in art research at the Institute of Art Studies in the field of Byzantine art. Together with her husband, the son of the President of Georgia, she had to flee to Switzerland in 1992, heavily pregnant, after his violent overthrow in the midst of the civil war. She has lived and worked in Basel for 28 years and is one of the few icon experts in Switzerland.
Thanks to her knowledge of art history, combined with her craftsmanship and many years of restoration experience, she has been able to realize several large public projects, such as museum exhibitions and restoration projects for churches and private collections. In her Basel studio, she teaches forgotten historical painting techniques such as ancient Egyptian encaustic, fresco, icon painting, etc.
Nina Gamsakhurdia is an unconventional painter. She boldly combines old techniques with a modern world view and personal artistic expression. She makes her own paints from precious stone pigments, uses gold leaf and silver and paints on wooden panels and cloths, which she primes in several layers with alabaster and glue. She researches ancient Egyptian, ancient Indian and Byzantine painting techniques and adapts them for her modern paintings and steles, which are particularly fascinating due to their ritual aesthetics.
Nina worked for many years in art research at the Institute of Art Studies in the field of Byzantine art. Together with her husband, the son of the President of Georgia, she had to flee to Switzerland in 1992, heavily pregnant, after his violent overthrow in the midst of the civil war. She has lived and worked in Basel for 28 years and is one of the few icon experts in Switzerland.
Thanks to her knowledge of art history, combined with her craftsmanship and many years of restoration experience, she has been able to realize several large public projects, such as museum exhibitions and restoration projects for churches and private collections. In her Basel studio, she teaches forgotten historical painting techniques such as ancient Egyptian encaustic, fresco, icon painting, etc.
Nina Gamsakhurdia is an unconventional painter. She boldly combines old techniques with a modern world view and personal artistic expression. She makes her own paints from precious stone pigments, uses gold leaf and silver and paints on wooden panels and cloths, which she primes in several layers with alabaster and glue. She researches ancient Egyptian, ancient Indian and Byzantine painting techniques and adapts them for her modern paintings and steles, which are particularly fascinating due to their ritual aesthetics.
Selected
exhibition history
exhibition history
2025
Georgian National Gallery, Tbilisi, Georgia
Treasure transfers, Lechbinska Gallery, Zurich
Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche / Karthäuser Kirche Basel
IMTENN Elsau (ZH), VELUM Reformierte Kirche Therwil
Villa Gellert, Basel
2024
VELUM, Kloster Kappel a. Albis
Römisch-Katholische Kirche Heiliggeist Basel
2023
«Ethernity?» Kunsthalle Messmer, Riegel am Kaiserstuhl DE
2022
Presidential Palace, Tbilisi, Georgien
Flow, Trotte Arlesheim
«30 Jahre Schweiz-Georgien», Botschafter Georgiens in der Schweiz
2021
LAPIS SOLARIS /Blaue Stele, Bahnhofkirche Zürich
2020
Schöpfung, Klosterhotel Kreuz, Mariastein
2019
BAIA GALLERY, Tbilisi, Georgia
Chubinashvili National Research Centre, Tbilisi, Georgia
2018
Pneuma. Die vergessene Atemseele der Malerei, Kloster Kappel
Ausstellung in der Galerie Claudine Hohl, Zürich
2016
«Epiphanie», Philosophicum im Ackermannshof, Basel
Galerie Claudine Hohl, Zürich
2015
Licht-im-Licht, Schloss Pratteln, Basel
2014
LAPIS SOLARIS, Villa Gellert
«Arte Noah», Tierpark Lange Erlen im Pavillon, Basel
«Hl. Michael – der Engel in Rot», Burghalde Museum Lenzburg
2013
KEIMEN, Casa del Arte, Zürich
GALERIE MOSAICO ARTISTICO, Fully
2012
AD HONOREM «Karl der Kühne», Chateau de Giez
ARTPOSITION, Valiant Award, Fribourg, CH
RESISTANCE TO THE TIME, Galerie Hammer, Basel
PARADEISOS, Ortsmuseum Trotte, Arlesheim
2011
SALON 2011, Exposition des Artistes du Comité National, Monégasque de L'A.I.A.P.
Jardin Exotique de MONACO
LAPISLAZULI, Galerie Ségurane, Nice, France
2010
«Bilder der Musik», Ausstellung in der Galerie Schlug, Luzern
Goetheanum, Dornach
«Artists at Home & Abroad», Broadway Gallery NYC
2009
Solo exhibition at ART INTERNATIONAL ZÜRICH
Galerie Hillmer, Berlin DE
Kunstmesse Sindelfingen, Stuttgart DE
2008
«Byzanz», Galerie Artefitz, Zürich
2007
«Akzente», Rathaus, Altensteig (D)
2006
«STELAI – Gedenktafeln Antik und Zeitgenössisch», Antikenmuseum Basel, Skulpturhalle
Alte Kirche Härkingen
2005
«Zwischen Antike und Moderne», Altensteig (D)
2004
«Die Schöpfung», Kongresshaus Zürich
Palais Hamilton, Baden-Baden (D)
Galerie «Maison du Caucase», Paris (F)
2003
Reformierte Kirche Therwil
Unternehmen Mitte, Basel
Galerie de la Cour, Romainmotier
2002
Ortsmuseum Trotte, Arlesheim
2001
BFM Bundesamt für Migration, Bern
2000
Elisabethenkirche Basel
1999
Piano-Eckenstein Basel
Paracelsus Spital Richterswil
1998
Heimatmuseum Dornach
Münster Basel
Georgian National Gallery, Tbilisi, Georgia
Treasure transfers, Lechbinska Gallery, Zurich
Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche / Karthäuser Kirche Basel
IMTENN Elsau (ZH), VELUM Reformierte Kirche Therwil
Villa Gellert, Basel
2024
VELUM, Kloster Kappel a. Albis
Römisch-Katholische Kirche Heiliggeist Basel
2023
«Ethernity?» Kunsthalle Messmer, Riegel am Kaiserstuhl DE
2022
Presidential Palace, Tbilisi, Georgien
Flow, Trotte Arlesheim
«30 Jahre Schweiz-Georgien», Botschafter Georgiens in der Schweiz
2021
LAPIS SOLARIS /Blaue Stele, Bahnhofkirche Zürich
2020
Schöpfung, Klosterhotel Kreuz, Mariastein
2019
BAIA GALLERY, Tbilisi, Georgia
Chubinashvili National Research Centre, Tbilisi, Georgia
2018
Pneuma. Die vergessene Atemseele der Malerei, Kloster Kappel
Ausstellung in der Galerie Claudine Hohl, Zürich
2016
«Epiphanie», Philosophicum im Ackermannshof, Basel
Galerie Claudine Hohl, Zürich
2015
Licht-im-Licht, Schloss Pratteln, Basel
Wundern – Funkeln, Andauerhof, Lyceum Club Basel
2014
LAPIS SOLARIS, Villa Gellert
«Arte Noah», Tierpark Lange Erlen im Pavillon, Basel
«Hl. Michael – der Engel in Rot», Burghalde Museum Lenzburg
2013
KEIMEN, Casa del Arte, Zürich
GALERIE MOSAICO ARTISTICO, Fully
2012
AD HONOREM «Karl der Kühne», Chateau de Giez
ARTPOSITION, Valiant Award, Fribourg, CH
RESISTANCE TO THE TIME, Galerie Hammer, Basel
PARADEISOS, Ortsmuseum Trotte, Arlesheim
2011
SALON 2011, Exposition des Artistes du Comité National, Monégasque de L'A.I.A.P.
Jardin Exotique de MONACO
LAPISLAZULI, Galerie Ségurane, Nice, France
2010
«Bilder der Musik», Ausstellung in der Galerie Schlug, Luzern
Goetheanum, Dornach
«Artists at Home & Abroad», Broadway Gallery NYC
2009
Solo exhibition at ART INTERNATIONAL ZÜRICH
Galerie Hillmer, Berlin DE
Kunstmesse Sindelfingen, Stuttgart DE
2008
«Byzanz», Galerie Artefitz, Zürich
2007
«Akzente», Rathaus, Altensteig (D)
2006
«STELAI – Gedenktafeln Antik und Zeitgenössisch», Antikenmuseum Basel, Skulpturhalle
Alte Kirche Härkingen
2005
«Zwischen Antike und Moderne», Altensteig (D)
Galerie «Confluences», Lyon (F)
2004
«Die Schöpfung», Kongresshaus Zürich
Palais Hamilton, Baden-Baden (D)
Galerie «Maison du Caucase», Paris (F)
2003
Reformierte Kirche Therwil
Unternehmen Mitte, Basel
Galerie de la Cour, Romainmotier
2002
Ortsmuseum Trotte, Arlesheim
2001
BFM Bundesamt für Migration, Bern
2000
Elisabethenkirche Basel
1999
Piano-Eckenstein Basel
Paracelsus Spital Richterswil
1998
Heimatmuseum Dornach
Münster Basel
Kulturzentrum Kloster Dornach, Basel
by Julia Lechbinska · EN/GE/RU · 8 min read
by Lucia Angela Cavegn · EN/GE · 4 min read
Paintings
Nina Gamsachurdia, Zu weit, 2024
Grundiertes Kirschholz, Platin, Farben: Marienglas, Lapislazuli, Zinnober, Pyrit, Azurit, Sodalith, Granit, Turmalin, Onyx, Rhodochrosit, Jade, Malachit, , Glimmer: Granat-Mehl, Biotit, Magnetit und Fuchsit, 22 x 13 cm
Grundiertes Kirschholz, Platin, Farben: Marienglas, Lapislazuli, Zinnober, Pyrit, Azurit, Sodalith, Granit, Turmalin, Onyx, Rhodochrosit, Jade, Malachit, , Glimmer: Granat-Mehl, Biotit, Magnetit und Fuchsit, 22 x 13 cm
Nina Gamsachurdia, Geistesfeuer, 2016
Grundiertes Lindenholz, Blattgold/Rotgold, Zinnober(aus chien t´ou, China), Zinnober (aus Monte Amiata), Glimmer: Biotit, Magnetit, 100x76x2cm
Grundiertes Lindenholz, Blattgold/Rotgold, Zinnober(aus chien t´ou, China), Zinnober (aus Monte Amiata), Glimmer: Biotit, Magnetit, 100x76x2cm
Nina Gamsachurdia, Connections (2022)
grundiertes Holz und Modelliermasse, Blattvergoldet, Blattsilber, Platin, Weissgold. Farben: Lapislazuli, Han-Purpur, Zinnober, Korallen, Azurit, Smalte, Vivianit, Sodalith, Granit, Turmalin, Onyx, Rhodochrosit, Jade, grüner Porphyr, Fuchsit, roter Jaspis, Bergkristall, Pyrit, 120x90x8cm
grundiertes Holz und Modelliermasse, Blattvergoldet, Blattsilber, Platin, Weissgold. Farben: Lapislazuli, Han-Purpur, Zinnober, Korallen, Azurit, Smalte, Vivianit, Sodalith, Granit, Turmalin, Onyx, Rhodochrosit, Jade, grüner Porphyr, Fuchsit, roter Jaspis, Bergkristall, Pyrit, 120x90x8cm
