Adjara Art Museum

Adjara Art Museum in Batumi

Overview

The Adjara Art Museum is the beating heart of modern Georgian culture on the Black Sea coast. Housed in a monumental Stalin-era building (1949) designed by architect Kakha Javakhishvili, the museum itself is a work of art – its facade features a striking relief frieze by famed sculptor Tamar Abakelia, while the interior boasts an ornamental stained-glass ceiling and a grand staircase inspired by medieval Georgian architecture. Since opening as an art museum in 1998, and with a completely renewed exhibition launched in January 2023, it has become the premier destination to experience Georgia's visual arts journey through the 19th and 20th centuries.

What to Expect

• Masterpieces of Georgian Modernism – A dazzling collection of Georgia's most celebrated painters: primitive genius Niko Pirosmani, realist Gigo Gabashvili, avant-garde legend David Kakabadze, mystical Lado Gudiashvili, Elene Akhvlediani, Zurab Nizharadze, Rusudan Petviashvili, and many more.

• European Salon & Realist Art – The ground floor features works by foreign artists who lived or worked in the Caucasus, including Richard Zommer (Poland), Boris Vogel (Germany), Gabriel Schachinger, Stefan Bakalowicz (Poland), Charles Leickert (Netherlands), and A.L. Turner – all working in classical, academic, and realist styles.

• The Building & Abakelia Frieze – The museum's exterior is a masterpiece of Soviet monumental architecture. Look up to admire Tamar Abakelia's sculpted frieze from 1951-52, blending medieval Georgian motifs with socialist realism.

• The New Gallery Wing (2015) – A harmonious architectural extension that hosts rotating temporary exhibitions, contemporary art projects, and international collaborations, making every visit potentially different.

• Stained-Glass Ceiling – Inside, the central ceremonial staircase is illuminated by a large ornamental stained-glass window set into the ceiling – a rare and beautiful feature in Georgian museum design.

Tips

• Start your visit on the ground floor with the European masters, then move upstairs to the Georgian collection – this follows the museum's intended chronological and stylistic flow.
• Look closely at the Pirosmani works – his paintings on black oilcloth are uniquely Georgian and world-famous.
• The building is a landmark of 1940s Georgian architecture. Take a moment outside to photograph Abakelia's frieze – it tells a visual story of Georgian cultural pride.
• Ask at the ticket desk if any temporary exhibitions are running in the 2015 gallery wing – they often feature young contemporary Georgian artists.
• Photography without flash is usually permitted, but always confirm at the entrance.
• Combine your visit with a walk along Akhvlediani Street to see other historic buildings from the same era.
• Allow at least 1.5 hours to do justice to both the permanent collection and any temporary shows.