Surrealist Georgian painter Pridon Nizharadze dies at 76

Surrealist Georgian painter Pridon Nizharadze has died at the age of 76.

Pridon Nizharadze, born in Georgia’s remote village of Ushguli (Svaneti region), often said that his main inspiration was nature, the universe and human beings.

Sending condolences to the artist's family and friends Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia said that with his special devotion, Pridon Nizharadze gave us [Georgians] an example of love for the country and left  a unique artwork that enriched Georgian culture.

Nizharadze started painting in his early years. Pridon Nizharadze/Self-portrait

The artist often used different materials to create art. He even painted  with coal on snow and with chalks on stones.

While studying in the Academy of Arts in Tbilisi, he was forced to draw only landscapes and portraits. 

View from Ushguli. Prifon Nizharadze

During the Soviet period the surrealist artist and his artwork was ignored even by the public only because he was different from others and did not perceive the world as others. Sometimes people called him ‘insane’.

After graduating from the Academy of Arts Nizharadze was even placed in a psychiatric hospital in Tbilisi for protecting Christian sanctities during the Soviet era.

Pridon Nizharadze’s first personal exhibition was hosted by Tbilisi History Museum (Karvasla) in November 2019.