Tekla Meladze

Tekla Meladze (b. 2000, Tbilisi, Georgia) is a contemporary artist whose practice explores the emotional and spiritual dimensions of human experience, drawing inspiration from Georgian culture, ritual, and symbolism. Through colour, texture, and restrained composition, her work reflects on themes of identity, memory, sacredness, and the quiet poetry embedded in everyday life.

Meladze was introduced to art at an early age, a pivotal moment occurring during a visit to the studio of renowned Georgian artist Zurab Nijaradze, which ignited her commitment to painting. She began working seriously at the age of 12 and quickly entered the international art scene, becoming the youngest artist to exhibit at both Art Expo New York and the 58th Venice Biennale, where she represented Georgia.

Her work is deeply informed by Georgia’s cultural heritage, including ancient gold-mining traditions, polyphonic music, kvevri winemaking rituals, and the spiritual symbolism embedded in daily practices. Art historian Dr. Gogi Khoshtaria has described her distinctive approach as “Monotonism,” noting the meditative application of gold and the maturity of her visual language that exists between material presence and dreamlike contemplation.

In 2024, Meladze achieved significant market recognition. Her painting Homeland was sold at Shapiro Auctions, followed by the sale of Bread and Wine at Bonhams London, and a recent sale at Freeman’s auction, marking her as one of the youngest Georgian artists to be represented at such a prestigious international auction house. These milestones reflect the growing institutional and collector interest in her work.

Meladze continues to expand her practice through thoughtful gallery collaborations, positioning her work at the intersection of cultural memory, spirituality, and contemporary abstraction.