Exhibition: Zurab Tsereteli in Saatchi

From 23 January to 17 February Saatchi gallery hosts the exhibition of Russian-Georgian artist Zurab Tsereteli. “Larger Than Life” is his  first major solo retrospective in the UK. Born in 1934 in Tbilisi, Georgia, 2019 marks the 85th anniversary of the artist’s birth. On view are paintings, sculptures, and enamels spanning his early years to the present alongside archival video footage that documents the artist’s life and work.  Tsereteli is a tireless worker and experimenter, the producer of many innovative works in painting and graphic media, bronze and enamel, tapestry and stained-glass, print and ceramics. At the same time, he has channelled a major part of his creative energy to philanthropy, education and public awareness of the visual arts.

About the artist

Zurab Tsereteli was born in Tbilisi, Georgia, in 1934 and graduated from the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts in 1958. Solo exhibitions include: the New Manege, Moscow (1998 and 2004); the UNESCO headquarters, Paris (2007), Museo di San Salvatore, Rome (2011), the Palace of Gran Guardia, Verona (2016) and the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, Cannes (2017).

In 1995, Tsereteli established the Moscow Museum of Modern Art, officially opened in 1999 as the first state museum in Russia entirely dedicated to modern and contemporary art. In 1997, Tsereteli was elected the President of the Russian Academy of Arts. In 2001, the Gallery of Arts of Zurab Tsereteli was opened in Moscow as part of the Russian Academy of Arts, and in 2012, Zurab founded the Museum of Modern Art in Tbilisi.

Tsereteli has been awarded UNESCO Ambassador of Good Will (2007); Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, Austria (2009); Chevalier of the National Order of the Legion of Honor by the government of France (2010); For Life in Art Prize and the International Giuseppe Sciacca Award from the Roman Academy of Fine Arts (2011); UNESCO Five Continents Medal (2014) and elected Member of the Chinese Academy of Fine Arts (2015). zurabtsereteli.com

• Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Rd, London SW3 4RY
• Free entrance