Levan Songulashvili (b. 1991, Tbilisi, Georgia) is a New York–based visual artist whose multidisciplinary practice spans painting, drawing, printmaking, installation, video, and sound. Through an abstract-figurative language, he explores themes of transformation, identity, and the evolving relationship between self and collective. Drawing from philosophical sources such as Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces and his own writings, Songulashvili weaves memory and perception into meditative visual narratives that reflect on cycles of loss, resilience, and renewal. Songulashvili creates works that invite reflection on the human condition, blurring cultural and emotional boundaries. His vision rejects conventional divisions, embracing a perception of individuality that transcends categories of origin, race, or gender.
Exhibitions & Collections: He is the first Georgian artist represented in the permanent collection of the Brooklyn Museum, with additional works held by the BREUS Foundation, Georgian Museum of Fine Arts, and other international collections. His work has been exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts (London), Saatchi Gallery (London), The National Gallery (Tbilisi), Sotheby’s (New York), Kornfeld Gallery | 68 Projects (Berlin), Palexpo (Geneva), /SAC Contemporary Art Center (Bucharest), Yarat Contemporary (Baku), Objectifs (Singapore), among others. In 2022, by decision of the President of Georgia, his work was installed at the Presidential Residence.
Education & Honors: Levan earned his BFA from the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts (2013) and MFA from the New York Academy of Art (2017). His honors include the President of Georgia Award, the Prime Minister’s Scholarship, recognition as Artist of the Year, and a place on Forbes 30 Under 30. He has collaborated with Issey Miyake, Jeremy Deller, and Giya Kancheli, and in 2018 published his monograph The STYX, presented at the Frankfurt Book Fair.
Beyond the visual arts, he extends his practice into writing and music, composing as a self-taught pianist.
Early Life and Influences
Levan Songulashvili was born in 1991 during a transformative period in Georgian history, as the Soviet Union was collapsing and independence was being re-established.
At the age of 12, he witnessed the 2003 Rose Revolution in Tbilisi with his mother, an event that deeply influenced his worldview and shaped his understanding of the relationship between individual freedom and collective desire. This experience is reflected in his art, which blends the mystical elements of Eastern art with the technical aspects of Western art traditions.
Through his work, Songulashvili explores the concept of “the other,” emphasising the significance of understanding and accepting diverse cultures, identities, and perspectives.
Artistic Approach
Songulashvili has a strong interest in the ideas and theories of German and French philosophers such as Martin Heidegger, Friedrich Nietzsche, Jacques Derrida, Michel Foucault, and Jean Baudrillard, as well as in the principles of psychoanalysis developed by Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, and Jacques Lacan.
His artistic approach revolves around the theme of mutability, delving into the relationship between individual identity and the collective. Sometimes he repeats certain imagery or forms in his work, creating a sense of unity and connection, while also highlighting the individual’s role within the larger group. Songulashvili examines the interplay between personal experiences and social or cultural influences, and the complexities of self-discovery.
Furthermore, his work reflects on the impact of technology and artificial intelligence on shaping his sense of self and consciousness, the complex and dynamic relationships between humanity and the environment, as well as his perspective on the future, encouraging reflection and deeper understanding of the world around us.
