Tbilisi State Academy of Arts

The Tbilisi State Academy of Arts (Georgian: თბილისის სახელმწიფო სამხატვრო აკადემია) is one of the oldest universities in Georgia and the Caucasus.

In 1922, Mose Toidze founded an art school providing training to young people wishing to enter the Academy.

The academy is housed in the former mansion of Vardan Arshakuni, completely reconstructed and refurbished by the architect Simon Kldiashvili in 1902.

Renowned artists have taught at the academy since its founding; the first were Gigo Gabashvili, Iakob Nikoladze, Eugene Lanceray, Joseph Sharlemagne, Henryk Hryniewski, Yeghishe Tadevosyan, Nikolay Sklifosovskiy, Nicholas Antadze, Anatoli Kalgin, Nikolay Severove, Dimitri Shevardnadze, Michael Machavariani, Alexander Pitskhelauri, Michael Khananashvili, Boris Shebuev, Mose Toidze, Alexander Tsimakuridze, Nicholas Kandelaki, Valerian Sidamon-Eristavi, David Kakabadze, Lado Gudiashvili, George Sesiashvili, Ucha Japaridze, Shalva Amiranashvili, Apollon Kutateladze, Vasili Shukhaev, Sergo Kobuladze, Silovan Kakabadze, Shota Mikatadze, David Tsitsishvili, Zakro Maisuradze, and Lado Grigolia.

For applicants with a foreign upper-secondary school education that lack qualifications in Georgian a language test is required.

Tbilisi State Academy of Arts building by Dmitri Yermakov . 1884
Gigo Gabashvili in the centre of photo, 1922.