Nana Bagdavadze is a Georgian born and classically trained American artist.
She earned her MFA from Academy of Fine Arts in Tbilisi, Georgia and had studied summer classes at the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg.
Her professional background is rooted in the classical traditions and influence by the ancient culture of her birthplace – Georgia, particularly by the cult of grape, ancient jewelry, and polyphony.
Nana has exhibited widely in the US and Europe and her works are in numerous permanent and private collections throughout the world, including: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, University of Kansas, Swedish Cancer Institute, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, National Library of Georgia, National Institute of Municipal Law Officers, Government Center in Salem, and numerous private collections in the US and Europe.
Ongoing series-“Nanovisions” represent symbolic images of DNA and are based on her personal experience as a bone marrow donor.
In her work, iconic Double Helix represents the symbol of life, rebirth, healing and the universal memory of organic life.
In series of digital drawings, Nana explores immediacy and simplicity of the form versus complexity of pattern and design. Focusing on rhythm and color of the whole, she emphasizes intricate details of the tiny particles.
She has taught Painting and Drawing in Academy of Fine Arts in Tbilisi, Georgia, as an adjunct professor at the Seattle Pacific University, at the Frye Art Museum, Bellevue Art Museum, Seattle Art Museum, Pratt Fine Arts Center, Kirkland Art Center, University of Washington Experimental College. Nana has taught workshops Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital in Washington, DC.
Nana is a well-known portrait artist and has been commissioned all over the world.
She was granted permanent residency in 1994 based on “Outstanding Artist” category and became US citizen in 1999.
Nana works and resides in Washington DC with her husband Sandro, a space physicist.