Džemal Gugunava

Džemal (Jemal) Gugunava, a Georgian academic painter living in Prague and Bristol (UK). A graduate of the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts (1974). Portrait painting, landscapes, minimalist still lifes, and conceptual compositions characterized by philosophical depth, contemplation, and simplicity. Exhibitions in the UK, the USA, Georgia, and the Czech Republic. As an academically trained painter, he masters a wide range of techniques, from the classical Venetian method (inspired by Titian) to modern impasto, which lends his works a three-dimensional, almost sculptural character. He paints whatever speaks to him at a given moment: landscapes, city streets, objects, human faces, or feminine beauty. His work, however, is always more than a depiction of reality; it is a philosophical interpretation of the world in which we live. The main themes of his works are contemplation, immersion, harmony, deep reflection, purity, and the absence of ostentatious luxury. Minimalism is a key element: it eliminates extraneous details to focus the viewer’s attention on the essence of the subject. In this way, it creates an intimate connection between the artwork and the viewer—one that is simple, focused, and sincere.His greatest passion lies in portrait and figurative painting. Whether he paints loved ones with a mysterious charm or strangers with their unique individuality, each portrait captures not only outward appearance but, above all, the passage of time and the state of the soul. In an era of borders, restrictions, aggression, and wars, she sees art as an opportunity to reflect on the world and build bridges between people.

Selected exhibitions:• 2025 – Jackson’s Art Prize 2025 (longlisted)• 2024 – Pouto / Bonds / კicesterebi, Beseder Gallery, Prague• 2018 – Unity in Diversity, Tbilisi History Museum, Georgia; From the Studio Floor, Cambridge, UK• 2017 – 19th “Postcards from the Edge,” Metro Pictures Gallery, New York, USA; The Other Art Fair (Saatchi Art), Arnolfini, Bristol, UK• 2016 – Portraits, Brick Lane Gallery, London, UK

His works are included in museum collections (Tbilisi State Academy of Arts, Yerevan Museum of Modern Art, N. Ostrovsky Museum, Sochi) and in private collections around the world (Georgia, Russia, Israel, the U.S., Colombia, New Zealand, Sweden, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Germany). Džemal Gugunava creates with a deep respect for tradition and an openness to the present. His paintings are an invitation to silence, to pause, and to encounter the essence of things. Explore his work at Original Gallery Prague.